Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with much of what the Minister has said and I realise it sounds like Utopia, but actually this is not what is happening in practice. As a former school principal, I can assure the Minister of State that parents are upset when they even think their child has autism. They cannot get a diagnosis or early intervention. I recognise that if the child gets into a special education school or class, he or she will get PECS and ABA treatment. However, I assure the Minister of State that there are many children with autism enrolled in mainstream schools who are not getting such support.

Something that was not mentioned in the Minister of State's answer is speech therapy. It is important for children with autism or Down's syndrome. The Minister should consider having speech therapists working within the school setting. It happens in some special schools. Instead of working for health boards, therapists should be based in schools in order that principals can ensure children get speech therapy.

I wish to raise an issue that relates to the Ministers for Education and Skills and Finance, namely, autism assistance dogs. There is Revenue recognition for blind people with guide dogs, as the dogs are expensive to maintain and sensitive and have special diets. When I submitted a parliamentary question to Revenue, however, the response was that an autism assistance dog was a companion. I have seen at first hand that these dogs transform the lives of children with autism and their families. Revenue and the Minister for Education and Skills should work together to ensure these families get their due.

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