Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for clarifying that, because I had not heard that. People have told me the position has not been clarified for them.

I ask the Minister of State and Minister for Education to re-examine the number of SEN and SNA positions. It is a significant problem across the board. Schools in Waterford are suffering because they are not getting additional SNAs. They cannot look after children with autism properly.

I want to read into the record some of the statistics from the AsIAm study which say a lot about where we are and what the Minister of State's strategy needs to address. The study found that 42% of parents and guardians have to wait more than two years to receive an autism diagnosis for their child; 79% said they were not in receipt of any support from the early intervention or school-aged going teams; 70% were broadly dissatisfied with HSE supports; 76% said their autistic children were not receiving any support from child and adolescent mental health services; 40% of respondents said their autistic children had regressed during Covid, which we know; 80% of respondents who confirmed they were in receipt of carers' allowance claimed it was insufficient; and 61% of those in receipt of domiciliary care allowance echoed similar feelings about their capacity to cover costs. Costs are a major issue.

We are all in agreement that autistic people need to be accepted as citizens in their own right and have the opportunity to be treated equally. We in the Regional Group believe legislation should clearly articulate the understanding that autistic people should have the same rights as enjoyed by all other citizens. We believe our Bill can significantly improve the position. I accept that the Minister of State asked for time to progress her autism innovation strategy, but we as a State must no longer delay in accelerating autism services and implementing innovation around them to provide the required supports.

Many campaigners have long highlighted what is required, and many people in the medical and mental health spaces have highlighted what is required. I hope that under the new strategy the Minister of State is proposing we will finally see resources being brought to bear where they are most needed.

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