Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Mary Butler for raising the issue. I am pleased to take this opportunity in update the Deputy on the provision of supports for children with autism in the south east and in particular the services available in Waterford. The Programme for a Partnership Government commits the Government to improving services and increasing supports for people with disabilities, particularly for early assessment and intervention for children with special needs. Since 2014, the roll-out of the HSE’s progressing disability services for children and young people from zero to 18 programme has entailed targeted investment of €14 million and the provision of 275 additional therapy staff to increase services for children with all disabilities, including children with autism. This national project is currently under way with the aim of providing services to children with all disabilities to be delivered by the children’s disability network teams. They will be based in the community and each child will be allocated to the team nearest their home

address. Services will be needs led rather than diagnosis led. That is to ensure equity of access across Waterford and throughout community health care organisation, CHO, 5 and also across the country. It will also provide a standardised holistic, family-centred service to children and their families.

The autism spectrum disorder, ASD, specialists will be assigned to the children’s disability network teams and will work from within the teams, rather than as a standalone service. That will mean children will continue to receive the intervention required, even when wait-listed for ASD diagnosis. Children with autism spectrum disorder will continue to receive intervention and families may avail of parenting workshops as appropriate from the network teams. A small cohort of children with autism and complex needs may require one-to-one intervention and that will be delivered by the ASD specialists. In future, there will be only two pathways for all children, including those with autism, through primary care services or through the children’s disability network teams. The HSE provides a range of services for children with autism which may include the following: assessment diagnosis, therapeutic intervention, nursing support, respite services and home support services. Access to service is based on the referral criteria, prioritisation and the particular service model within each discipline required, for example, psychiatry, psychology, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, physiotherapy and social work services. They are the issues on which we need to focus.

In addition, the HSE may provide grant aid funding to voluntary groups and autism support groups. Support can come from other parents or guardians who have children with ASD and from autism support groups. The key objective is to achieve equity of access and consistency of service delivery, with a clear pathway for children with disabilities and their families to services, regardless of where they live or go to school or the nature of the individual child’s difficulties. I am confident that the additional resources being invested in both primary and disability services will have a positive impact on the provision of clinical services to all children with disabilities, including autism, and those who may currently be on waiting lists. I accept Deputy Butler's point that there is a problem in that regard and I will deal with that later. There are waiting lists to access therapy inputs not just in the south east, but across the country.

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