Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I commend the sponsors of this Bill. On World Autism Awareness Day, I think in particular of the 3,600 families who, at the end of 2018, were waiting for a period in excess of the statutory limit for an assessment of needs. As we know, without such an assessment, children with autism cannot access basic services such as speech and language therapy or obtain extra support in schools such as special needs assistants. Approximately 600 children are born with autism annually. Behind statistics are real-life stories of families who find it very difficult to cope and who are incredibly frustrated. Evelyn, mum to four and a half year old Charlie, told me of her sense of disbelief, anger, frustration and complete and utter desperation. She spoke of inefficiencies in the HSE and roadblocks in the education sector and in the disability sector. These parents want nothing but the best and the most potential for their children.

Many inconsistences exist in access to autism services in the State. We all acknowledge that early intervention and autism-specific education gives children the potential to have the best quality of life.

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