Johnny Mythen (Wexford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. As she is aware, when a family receives a diagnosis of autism for a child, there are changes that may need to be made in terms of education, healthcare and other supports to ensure the continued heath, well-being and happiness of the child. These appropriate supports cannot be put in place if a family is left waiting for an assessment. This is highly stressful for the children, parents and siblings involved. It also affects school allocations of special needs assistants, SNAs. Some of these parents are in a state of desperation, trying to scrape together enough money to get a private assessment for their child. It appears that the cost of an assessment that would be accepted by the HSE is between €1,450 and €1,850. We cannot and should not have a situation where money is a factor in whether children receive the supports they require. That is wrong. These children and their families must be made an immediate priority for assessment. They cannot wait any longer. Can the Minister of State offer an remedy for the growing waiting lists for ASD assessment in Wexford?

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