Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Galway Autism Partnership is in danger of closure in the new year. We attended a very emotional but factual meeting at the end of November when the partnership pointed out that it is a charity with one full-time worker and two part-time workers. It is utterly reliant on voluntary workers. It provides community support in the form of camps and clubs to over 203 families. It serves individuals, children and adults with autism. Those families cannot survive without these services. That was made crystal clear to us. It is interesting that 53% of the referrals to the service are from State funded agencies. The HSE and Tusla are referring people to the Galway Autism Partnership while it is trying to survive on a shoestring budget, fund-raising and charity.

This simply cannot continue. We are due to have a meeting with the HSE tomorrow and I hope there will be a positive outcome. The partnership applied for funding under section 39 but was refused. To offer an example, there are millions of euro sitting dormant in various dormant accounts, including in the Department of Health. I would not raise a matter at this time on a Thursday night unless it was urgent. We need intervention on this matter so this essential service can continue in the new year.

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