Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I want to return to the issue of disability rights and autism services. As the Minister knows, Deputy Alan Kelly, our Labour Party colleagues and I have been working for some time with the amazing young autism campaigner, Cara Darmody, and her family. Indeed, we put down a motion in Private Members’ time last year on the need to address the appalling delays in assessments of need for children who need autism services. Cara is outside the front of Leinster House today. I am glad the Taoiseach has agreed to meet Cara. When I raised it with him on 17 April in this House and sought a meeting, he committed at that point to meet with her. I hope the meeting will be productive. Cara is seeking a Government commitment to address the untenable delays for children in securing assessments of need. When will we see a meaningful timeline for the implementation of a national autism empowerment strategy? It is something that we in Labour have sought for a long time. We have spoken with the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, on numerous occasions in this House. Until we see that, Cara's work campaign will have to continue.

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