James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Health, the HSE and the Department of Education and Skills co-operate on a regular basis in progressing disability issues. In 2006 a cross-sectoral team was established to provide for a joint approach by both Departments to the implementation of the Disability Act 2005 and the Education for Persons with Special Education Needs - EPSEN - Act 2004. The team includes senior officials from both Departments, as well as representatives from the HSE and the National Council for Special Education.

As the Deputy may be aware, Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005 was commenced for children under the age of five years on 1 June 2007. It had been intended to have both the Disability Act 2005 and the EPSEN Act 2004 fully implemented during 2010 in respect of children and young people between the ages of five and 18 years. In the light of financial circumstances, however, further implementation of the Acts was deferred in 2008. Notwithstanding the deferral of further implementation of the Acts, the cross-sectoral team continues to meet to address issues of mutual concern for people with disabilities, including children with autism.

The HSE is undertaking a national review of autism services. The review will identify the core principles of service delivery and standards of practice that will guide national autism services in the future. The aim is to review current models of service provision, make recommendations on preferred models of service delivery, and identify clear and consistent pathways for access to services for children with autism. It is expected that the final report will be presented to the board of the HSE shortly.

The review will be taken into consideration in framing future policy developments on autism. The issue of strengthening co-operation between the Department of Education and Skills, the HSE and the Department of Health on policy and operational matters for children with autism will also be examined as part of this process and necessitate further discussions between all parties. I have raised these issues with the Minister for Education and Skills and the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs as part of this process. It is our intention to appoint a person at principal officer level to co-ordinate this work across the three Departments.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I acknowledge that the Minister has long had an interest in this area. I refer specifically to 12 February 2008 when his party brought forward a progressive motion calling for enhanced co-operation between the Department of Education and Skills and the then Department of Health and Children to ensure children with special needs would receive adequate support in all aspects of their lives from an early age. The Minister made a contribution to that debate, in which he said he was focusing specifically on the area of applied behaviour analysis, ABA, education for children with autism. He said: "Natural justice, humanity and fairness demand that ABA is made available to those-----

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Could the Deputy ask a question, please?

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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There is a question; of course, there is a question.

The Minister stated:

Natural justice, humanity and fairness demand that ABA is made available to those for whom it is the most appropriate mode of treatment. Early assessment is essential. It is nonsense to have speech and language therapy for the education of young children solely under the remit of the Health Service Executive when clearly the Department of Education and Science should have access to it.

My question is that, in calling for closer co-operation and recognising that the Department of Education and Skills intends to close down ABA, which is actual evidence of a continuation of the approach of the former Government-----

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Could the Deputy ask the question, please?

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Will the Minister, given his long record of interest in this area, help ensure through the dialogue that ABA will be protected and secured as an option for those children for whom it is by far the best mode of address?

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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This area requires closer co-operation between the Departments of Education and Skills, Children and Youth Affairs, and Health. That is why I proposed to my ministerial colleagues that we should have a principal officer appointed across the three Departments, with the lead coming from the Department of Health. They have accepted this in principle. The matter has not been finalised but is close to being finalised. I hope this will inform all parties on the needs of children with autism and other disabilities. The principal officer should cover all disabilities associated with children.

I certainly look forward to co-operation leading to greater availability of a wide range of services to children with autism. I hope the issue of ABA schools will be among those being considered.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I welcome the Minister's last comment and must interpret it as positively as possible. In July 2010, just last year, the Minister accused the then Minister for Education and Science and the Department of bullying tactics and of forcing ABA schools to sign up to the transition to special school status, thus ceasing to provide ABA to the cohort of children who would benefit. I hope the Minister's response has indicated his position has not changed.

What will be done to address the shortage of speech and language therapists and the failure to replace therapists on sick leave and maternity leave? The shortage is such that the children affected miss out of months of educational input that is crucial to their early development.

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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We are certainly seeking to protect front-line staff in that area. We are discussing the moratorium in terms of flexibility regarding key positions of the kind in question. I am aware of circumstances in which we have not been able to provide the speech and language services and behavioural therapy that should go with the classes provided. I am addressing this internally in the Department at present.