Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Rural Independent Group for allowing me time to speak. Many of my colleagues would like to speak tonight but there is just not enough time. On this World Autism Awareness Day, I support this motion and the principles behind it. The inconsistencies that exist in accessing services for autism in the State must be addressed.

I will speak to one issue, which is the waiting time for a child to be assessed. Delays in getting assessed result in delayed interventions, and this can ultimately affect the development and well-being of the child. Every Deputy in the House will say that this is what they are met with every day of the week, with parents coming in who know their child needs an assessment but who have to wait two to three years for it. Parents have enough on their plate when looking after children with disabilities to have to fight the State and bring a court case so their child can get the required intervention.

At the end of 2018, there were almost 3,600 children waiting longer than the three months put down in statute. We need to get our act together. Children with disabilities and different needs have for too long been forgotten about by the health system. We are only making this worse for children and their families by delaying intervention. Every one of us knows a child with autism. A special little girl visits my house and her name is Tia. It is so important that every child would get every opportunity to be the best that he or she can be. The only way to do this is to implement the correct supports.

I commend Deputies Funchion and Ó Caoláin on their work on this matter to date. It is very timely and I hope the Government will listen.

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