Johnny Mythen (Wexford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the parents of children in the Gallery. I also thank the Labour Party for bringing forward the Bill. It is obvious that to address the shocking lack of services, relentless lists for assessments and unavailability of school places for children with autism that something must be done. At the moment, parents of children with special educational needs do not know if their children have a school place in September. Something must be done. Parents and guardians are at breaking point, mentally and physically worn out from trying to access proper services. Their entire day is taken up with fighting the system to get their children on a waiting list that can mean waiting for anywhere between 18 months and four years. There is not a Deputy who has not been contacted by parents looking for the basic right of assessment. Some tell us they have to borrow money, usually beyond their means, to get private assessments for their loved ones. As legislators, we need to recognise the serious problems with the current unworkable and unmanageable system and put in place a comprehensive autism strategy to be published in 12 months, as provided for in the Bill.

At present, we have no means of collecting the full data or the means to provide accurate information on autism. This is one of the main pitfalls that must be tackled now. An accurate information system will lead to determining the correct policies, staffing levels and provision to deliver autism services throughout the State and pinpoint where they are most needed. In my own county of Wexford there are four children's disability network teams, CDNTs, which have vacancies for four occupational therapists, three psychiatrists and 3.9 speech therapists, and they have at least 445 children on waiting lists. This is not acceptable for families with children with disabilities, especially autism. The kernel of the Bill is to have a clear system of accountability and scrutiny with direct oversight by the Minister of the day. The question of autonomy by various managers must also be fully examined. The protocol to the UNCRPD cannot be put aside any longer. We are also calling for the immediate fast-tracking of section 37A. Sinn Féin fully supports this Bill and calls on all Deputies to do likewise.

I will also say that the Government, by neither opposing or supporting this Bill, is putting good legislation into no-man's-land.

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