Margaret Cox (Fianna Fail)

It gives me great pleasure to contribute to the debate on autism. It is indicative of the importance given to this matter by people at all levels that we are debating it now, following this morning's debate on the special educational needs legislation.

I am sure the Minister of State has noted with interest the agreement that has emerged between Members who have spoken during this debate and earlier debates on this matter regarding the issues faced by the parents and carers of children or persons with autism. Those with autism do not remain children; they grow up and become adults and need ongoing care for the remainder of their lives.

Almost every speaker referred to the complete lack of adequate respite facilities for people with children, young adults or persons with autism in their families. Access to respite beds for any period is practically absent throughout the country. We need to address that matter. When the need for respite care beds for the elderly arose, we entered into public private partnership type arrangements with tax incentives to encourage the provision of such beds. Perhaps the Department should discuss this matter with the Department of Finance. Would it be possible to address it in the next finance Bill and put in place some form of tax incentive? There are now many nursing homes throughout the country and there is an adequate supply of step-down facilities. Would it be possible, perhaps in association with the new regional structures that will be put in place, to create tax incentives using the private facilities already in existence to provide for respite places? We could then provide adequate training and backup resources to allow parents to take some much needed time off.

It is not just parents who have a need for respite, it is entire families. Autism is a particularly difficult disability if one is a sibling. If one has grown up with an autistic sister or brother, one's entire family will have been affected because such siblings require more attention. This creates a range of issues for the wider family. It is not just the parents or carers who need the respite, it is the entire family. It is important to bear this in mind in terms of our attitude and approach to how we intend to deal with the area of respite care.

The issue of education was discussed this morning during the debate on the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Bill. I do not intend to rehearse the arguments I put forward this morning. However, I made one point in the debate on the legislation which I wish to reiterate, namely, that the definition of a child as someone who is not more than 18 years of age is not acceptable. It must be stated repeatedly, and loud and clear, that it is not acceptable that people with special needs are defined, for educational purposes, in legislation as children and are only catered for until the age of 18.

Major strides forward have been taken in the education sphere, particularly in terms of autism services. Special classes have been established in national schools throughout the country. Such classes are made up of six or eight children, special needs assistants are provided and wonderful methods of education are employed. The results achieved have been great. To the teachers who provide these classes and the parents who send their children to them I say "well done". There are also special classes, some of which follow different methods. It is important to monitor the different methods and identify which is the best model to employ. The latter might incorporate a number of models to cater for each child's need, his or her family's circumstances and the location of the school.

As someone stated in this morning's debate, needs and levels of access are different throughout the country. Senators Brian Hayes and Daly referred to speech therapy. Trinity College is no longer the only institution producing speech therapists. A course has been established at the National University of Ireland Galway, on which physiotherapists, speech therapists and others in the paramedical area are being trained so that much needed resources can be provided.

We must also take cognisance, however, of children whose first language is Irish and who are growing up in families which speak it daily. These children will enter schools where their friends and teachers will also speak Irish. This creates an additional set of needs in this area. The challenge the Government, the Minister of State and the Department face is to ensure that we cater equally for people who have particular needs as regards the Irish language. This is something to bear in mind as regards the emphasis in the training and education programmes we put in place to produce the necessary human resources. The term "human resources" is the wrong one to use because these people are specialists and are dedicated to what they do. Anyone who works in the area of disability must have a vocation because they go far beyond the call of duty in terms of the dedication, loyalty, commitment and love they show towards these special people.

Senator Brian Hayes referred to analysis. Parents bring their children to public health nurses for check-ups at three months, 12 months and again just before they begin attending school. These check-ups are extremely important but more is required. It must be made clear that if people feel there is a small difficulty with their children, they should know where to go and should not be ashamed, embarrassed or left to wonder whether it is too early to seek assistance. We must alter people's perceptions. Asking questions does not make one a good or bad parent and it is nothing of which to be ashamed. If parents believe that something is wrong, they need immediate access to some form of analysis so that their concerns can be allayed. There is nothing worse for a parent than spending six months worrying about whether their child will be diagnosed with autism or whether there is anything wrong at all. Sometimes those six months can be wasted.

Immediate access to diagnosis and to a range of services that will show people how to move forward is required. Ireland has developed enormously in terms of its recognition of special needs and also in respect of what it does for the families of children or people with special needs. However, that information must be shared. Families do not have the time to worry about their entitlements, such as medical cards and grants, where their children will attend to school or the facilities that are available. Parents cannot afford to have such concerns because they must care for their children at home on a daily basis and try to do their utmost to help them. Early diagnosis and intervention and the formulation of a pathway and plan for the child through all the stages of his or her life are very important.

Senator Daly spoke about the vital area of research. The research environment that pertains in Ireland is part and parcel of the issue and how we deal with it. We cannot always operate in the American mould; we need to have our own mould and devise our own models. To do that, we need to conduct our own research. The message to the Minister of Sate today is that all Members are speaking with one voice. Some of us think we are doing a better job than others in terms of the services we provide but everybody recognises that we have more to do, particularly in this area. The Minister of State is faced with a challenge.