Sheila Terry (Fine Gael)

Everybody here is of one mind on this subject and we all wish to see an improved service for the parents of autistic children. None of us appreciates our healthy children until we meet somebody who has an autistic child. I met some of these parents during the recent campaign and they have so many different concerns about their children's futures depending on the current age of each particular child. I can only imagine what it must be like to have an autistic child and to worry about his or her future, particularly when parents are frustrated in their efforts to deliver the necessary services for their children. Even accessing the services is difficult, as Senator Costello observed, because some parents do not even know where to go to get help. We should be able to make it easier for people to access those services.

I met one couple whose five year old child had been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, ASD. I shall speak to the Minister of State on another occasion to see what can be done about this particular case. These parents' concern was that their child needs speech and language therapy but is not receiving it. Although he is attending a special school, which has been granted €30,000 in funding by the health board for the provision of this service, the therapists are simply not available. At first the school was prepared to give the parents money to bring the child to a private speech and language therapist but the health board withdrew approval for this option. The parents, who can ill afford it, are now paying €50 per half-hour for twice-weekly therapy for their child. The Minister of State will agree it is unfair that in a society which prides itself on its economic strength, we cannot look after our most needy citizens. These parents have been assured that if their child receives the help he requires he could have a successful future. It is at this critical age that he needs this assistance. I use this child only as an example because his case mirrors those of many others. We need to consider how the speech and language service can be delivered to the people who really need it.

The parents to whom I referred also mentioned their conviction that their child should be entitled to a medical card. He has one currently but it is only for a 12 month period. This is another issue we need to consider if we are to fulfil the needs of these families and their children as they grow into adults.

The other area of concern concerns accommodation and respite. As parents grow older and children become adults, we must consider how we can prepare for the possibly long-term accommodation of the latter and, in particular, to provide respite so that parents can get the help they need. This has been referred to by many Members here today.

In terms of education, the most important issue is early intervention; delivering the necessary services to children at the earliest possible time. We must ensure that the service is there and that parents who are trying to do their best for their children should not have to seek out assistance only to be told that it is unavailable. That the service cannot be delivered is the most appalling aspect of the current situation regarding autistic children and indeed any people with special needs. The Minister of State has a sincere interest in this issue and I hope that he will be able to improve the existing services. That is what every Member wants and we speak with one voice on this matter. We are aware that it will cost money and that such improvements cannot be delivered at the drop of a hat but we have been talking about this for a long time and there are still people who cannot access the service they deserve.

I ask the Minister of State to continue to work on this and I will speak to him later about the individual case to which I referred, which is representative of the plight of many parents with autistic children. If the Minister of State is unable to deliver the necessary services, such as speech and language therapy, he might consider permitting parents to secure such services in the private sector, particularly where money has been identified for that purpose. That is the only option we can pursue until we have the required number of qualified people in the health service to cater for the needs of autistic children.