Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

I commend Deputy Funchion and Sinn Féin for tabling this motion. She has done sterling work in this area. It is appropriate that we discuss this issue on World Autism Awareness Day. Awareness is crucial to understanding. In the past, autistic adults were institutionalised, marginalised and, at worst, hospitalised in this country. Thankfully, society's approach towards people with autism has improved and there is more inclusion and understanding. It has been autistic people themselves and their families who have changed misconceptions about autism. Their life experience and testimony has given us a better understanding of autism.

There are still enormous barriers in society for autistic people in employment, education and support needs. Autistic people can live perfectly productive lives. Many of the barriers which autistic people face come from how society responds to them, which is quite inadequate. Early intervention is crucial to children and the current delays in diagnosis can have an enormous impact on a child's development. Many children find themselves in very long queues for crucial supports. Families are forced to seek private services or else face waiting years for early intervention. The Disability Act 2005, which provides that children be assessed within three months, is failing so badly that families are bringing the Government to the High Court for breaking its own legislation. It is extraordinary that parents must drag the Government through the courts to secure early intervention. It is incredible.

We can have very good speeches in this House and the Government can say that it is doing its best, but the figures speak for themselves, as others have noted. They are damning of this Government and its predecessors. In 2008, 1,143 applications for an assessment of needs evaluation were not completed within the statutory three-month period. By 2017, the figure had risen to 2,154, and by October 2018, 3,662 were overdue. Potentially thousands of families could bring the Government to court because it is breaking its own laws. It is an extraordinary position in which the Government has placed itself.

I will conclude on a positive note. Today, one of the most inspiring activists of our time wrote on Twitter that she was "proud to be on the spectrum". Most people will know this young Swedish school student, Greta Thunberg, who has been campaigning for climate justice. She also said that for most autistic people "it is an endless fight against schools, workplaces and bullies" but given the right supports it "can be a superpower".

See this speech in context