Seán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister. I accept that the Government has provided additional funding for this area during its term of office and that additional posts have been created. Nevertheless, the question regarding this young man, Igor, remains, as well as the fact that his family has not received a definite timescale for his transfer from the psychiatric unit to a care placement in a more residential setting. I accept the Minister's statement that there is confidentiality surrounding this issue but I am heartened by the fact that she will make further inquiries. I hope there will be a result quite soon.

On a more general level, and while I have time to raise this, there is the general question of the suitability of an acute psychiatric unit as a place to treat an autism sufferer. I accept that it can be difficult to deal with an autism sufferer but, as a lay person without any medical qualifications, I do not consider an acute psychiatric unit the best place for a person who has autism. I hope that this matter might be addressed again when policy is being formulated.

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