Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Today is World Autism Awareness Day. Children with autism are being abandoned in south Tipperary. The HSE has confirmed that the waiting time for autism assessments is now in excess of two years. A total of 233 children are waiting for an autism assessment. Cara Darmody was told in the past that children could access assessments privately if the HSE continued to fail but that is not happening. Beyond that, I have repeatedly raised the difficulty of children with autism getting appropriate school places. At least 17 children in south Tipperary are waiting for a placement in a special school while many others are waiting for placement in special classes. The Minister for Education said that she will force schools to take places, but we have schools that are waiting for places and will not be allowed to give them. On this day especially, will the Taoiseach please try to do something to alleviate this? I know much progress has been made with a number of new special schools recently and indeed at a number of new special classes in south Tipperary. I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, for his engagement and for his recent visit to Cashel. We need to do more for the likes of young Michael Barrett in Cahir and others who are waiting.

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