Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The bottom line is that it simply is not working. I refer to the case of a young child of two and a half years who needs an assessment application. The child attended in June 2016 and the family were told it would be dealt with on 23 September. They were then told in November by an assessment officer that there was a five month delay and that she was processing number 482. This child was number 981. Eventually, the family got a private assessment only to be told that an early intervention ASD unit cannot be made available because there must be a HSE assessment. These are the kind of cases that Deputies are picking up throughout the country. There are long waits for assessment and an inability to access services.

Marian House is the autism centre for assessment in Cork South Lee. The last paragraph of a letter that admittedly was sent last year reads:

Currently in Marian House there are only 8 whole time equivalent post to 770 children. This scarce resource is divided into three teams to support children from time of diagnosis... The situation is out of ... control ... we are sorry we are unable to offer a comprehensive service which you and your child deserve and require.

Last year, it sent a letter in which it stated it had only eight whole-time equivalent posts for 770 children. This scarce resource, the letter continued, is divided into three teams to support children from timely diagnosis. It describes the situation as out of control and apologises for being unable to offer the comprehensive service the recipient and child deserve and require.

A similar story applies in other areas. In one area, 800 children are waiting for an autism assessment. I could go on. The system is not working. There is no point in talking about models when urgent intervention is required. It should not have to be deputation after deputation going to Ministers to get these issues resolved. The issues must be dealt with comprehensively.

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