Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The programme for Government contains a commitment to the autism innovation strategy and the development of a national autism strategy. This autism innovation strategy is currently at an advanced stage in response to this commitment. It is my intention that the strategy will be launched in the first half of this year. This is an important priority for me and for the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman. I am so ambitious I would like to have it done during autism awareness month. I would like to think we will have it done in early April so parents will be able to see what our ambition is for the rest of our term.

The autism innovation strategy will identify ways to address the bespoke challenges and barriers faced by autistic people and to improve understanding of autism within society and across the public system in a way that complements and enhances wider action on disability. The autism innovation strategy will contain actions that will be undertaken right across Government to better support autistic people and their families over an 18-month period.

Development of the autism innovation strategy is nearing completion and a draft was published on 9 February this year. The draft strategy was prepared based on feedback received as part of an initial public consultation and following discussions with Departments and agencies to agree actions under the strategy.

The draft strategy was published as part of a further public consultation to give the autistic community, their families and supporters another opportunity to have their say. It is actually open at the moment for the second round of public consultation so I appeal to anybody watching and to my colleagues to ensure people feed into that. I am committed to this as part of the development process. Further public consultation on this will be held but will be completed in mid-March so that we have it ready for publication in April.

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