Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am sharing time with Deputy Danny Healy-Rae. This Bill would oblige the Government to produce a cross-departmental autism strategy and require all relevant Ministers and public bodies to co-operate with its implementation. The strategy would outline how the needs of people with autism, including access to education, other public services, employment and social inclusion, can be met by public service providers. It would detail how the needs of families and carers can be met by setting out a roadmap of actions for the development and improvement of family support services. The Bill would make the Minister for Education responsible for monitoring the implementation of the strategy. It would make other Ministers and public bodies accountable, as each relevant Minister and public body would be required to publish a progress report on a three-yearly basis, giving updates on the implementation of the strategy.

It is remarkable that such a strategy does not already exist, especially given that the Government knows we will need school places for young people with autism into the future. The data we have make that requirement completely predictable. It is immoral that the State would allow the scandal to persist whereby hundreds of young people with autism do not know in June whether they will have a school place in September, not to mention the 15,500 young people who have to leave their catchment area to access a school place. There are large numbers of these children in west Cork. While the Bill will not address many of the prevailing issues impacting people with autism, we are happy to support its aim of achieving a legislative underpinning of rights.

It is truly shocking that in 2022, there is still not equality for people with disabilities. There is an ocean of window dressing by the State when it comes to inclusivity but the truth is that hundreds of thousands of citizens are excluded from life in this country every single day of the week. Yesterday, while we were discussing the arrangements for this week on the Order of Business, there were calls for the Taoiseach to give proper time for debate on the Government Bill and not just squeeze it in on Friday in an effort to push it through. This area needs proper debate because there are a lot of issues associated with it. It is an area that has been neglected for many years.

The Minister of State might smile but it certainly is not a smiling matter for the people who are suffering. The Government did its best to close the early intervention unit in Kilbrittain until I intervened and kicked up hell over it in west Cork. The Government eventually backed off and allowed it to stay open for one more year. The unit is delivering hugely for the people of west Cork and it needs to be allowed to continue that work.

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