Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her response. Work on the strategy was announced last December and was obviously very welcome. I understand when the strategy is rolled out and devised it will at all junctures try to advance the rights of people with autism and address the challenges and barriers they face. Nonetheless, we all know the pressures and challenges faced by people with autism and their families, and they are significant.

I hope that as the strategy evolves, and with input from all stakeholders, we can arrive at a point where significant policy recommendations can be made that will improve people's lives and their interaction with the State and its services.

What does the Minister of State hope or envisage the autism strategy will address specifically? I ask her to explain step-by-step how the strategy is to be developed. I believe there are three steps that will be followed. How will she ensure the strategy will be fully inclusive?

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