Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy will be aware that last week, we announced €7.8 million for assessment of needs. As Minister of State with responsibility for disability, I note autism plays a major role within that responsibility and will be one of the key drivers in my work on the programme for Government. To all those who may be listening to proceedings this evening, the Deputy is correct; there was and is a national scandal involving children being sent home from school and not accessing full hours. I agree completely with the Deputy on that. We must review the standard operating procedures for the assessment of needs to ensure it amounts to more than just assessment and there is intervention at the other end.

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