Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I have requested a meeting with the SENO and the Minister of State on this issue. I would appreciate a response to that. I thank the Minister of State. That is a clear failure. The Department is aware of the numbers of children and knows the spaces that will be required. Not only is it failing to meet the needs of the young people, but it is adding stress and fear onto struggling families. There is an abundant need for considerably more ASD spaces in schools across Cork South-West, and for a special school. It is unbelievable that there is not a single special school in Cork South-West. The closest one is in the city and, as the Minister of State knows, that journey could take more than two hours by car.

The Government likes to talk about a rights-based approach to disability but we actually have a budget-based approach. Services, therapies and classes are provided according to budgets and not needs. This is the most sickening part. We know and understand the need. The Government, the Departments of Health and Education, and the HSE are all aware. Being ignorant of an issue is one thing; understanding the matter and the scale and not providing the interventions is negligent and discriminatory. This, right now, is yet another State scandal. The problem is it is a slowly unfolding disgrace consisting of waiting lists, referrals and promises of change down the line. It is a wrong being perpetuated against exhausted families who do not have the energy for another fight.

This Bill is essential. I cannot overstate the importance of the immediate passing of the legislation. It is aimed at addressing the inconsistencies and the availability and types of services for children and adults with ASD. It provides for the development and implementation of a cross-departmental, multi-agency autism spectrum disorder strategy which can meet the needs of persons with ASD throughout their lives. While I have given examples of children with ASD, we need services that support people at all life stages, especially as our understanding of ASD evolves. This is about mechanisms for employment and housing, and for assuring families that adults with ASD can live full, independent lives. This requires strategies and approaches that can respond to the complexity of autism and plan for the services needed. The Bill allows for the necessary co-ordinated and strategic services. I had hoped this was an issue we could all agree on. We are aware of the urgent need because all our offices are contacted about this regularly and yet the Government seems determined to delay.

The Minister of State's motion to push back the Second Reading of this Bill by one year is unacceptable. Not only is it morally wrong, it is deeply insulting to the people concerned and their families. These children and adults whose lives are spent on different waiting lists and whose services are consistently delayed are being told that the ASD Bill 2017 is going to be pushed back another year. It is unbelievable. I heard what the Minister of State said earlier about waiting to see how other matters unfold. These people have been waiting for long enough. This Bill is essential now.

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