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

This seems to now be a standard approach from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. The Bill is being delayed using the excuse that the autism innovation strategy must be developed and implemented. A similar approach is being taken with the optional protocol to the Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. We could ratify the optional protocol tomorrow if the Government wanted to, as the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and the UN special rapporteur have said, but instead disabled people are being told that mechanisms and strategies must be put in place first, despite the fact that other jurisdictions have shown this is not the case. This Bill cannot wait another year. The people it is designed to help cannot wait another year, nor can the overstretched families. When this Bill was discussed in the Seanad over four years ago, it was pointed out that the legislation was already long overdue. How long will these children and adults have to wait?

We all know cases of young people and adults with ASD who have made incredible progress. This is down to the dedication, love and sacrifice of their parents, families and communities, in combination with proper supports and therapies, too many of which are accessed privately. Whole cohorts of children will not receive these vital interventions when they are most effective because of the income of their families or because of where they live. This has to change. The Bill allows for a cross-departmental strategy with much-needed monitoring and reporting systems to support people with ASD. I urge every Deputy to support it and I ask the Minister of State to withdraw the amendment which is, frankly, insulting to families.

I know the Minister of State would have liked more funding in the budget and is a strong advocate for that. Only €65 million in additional funding was added when the Department's own capacity review determined that we needed €350 million to meet the unmet needs of people with disabilities. It is outrageous that the entire Government was not with the Minister of State when she was seeking more funding. The State can afford to meet the unmet needs of people with disabilities and we choose not to, time and time again. I thank the Regional Independent Group for allowing this vital discussion.

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