Alex White (Labour)

In her remarks at the outset of the debate, the Minister reminded us about the progress made in the past ten years on this issue and she is correct in this. This point is often made by Ministers in these debates and when it is the wonder for me is not the improvement made in these ten years but the slow pace of improvement. This is in light of the incredible prosperity we had during this period through the hard work of the people of Ireland and the increase of resources available to the Government for spending on vital educational and social needs. We also have now a heightened understanding of autism which we did not have in the past. The Minister mentioned this in her remarks. It is an important scientific advance on which the Minister is able to rely.

Other speakers referred to personal examples and experiences. I have had an involvement with this issue since childhood through a close member of my family. My aunt, as a parent, faced this struggle alone during a period when autism was not understood and was a mystery. In many cases no outlet existed other than psychiatric hospitals and my aunt fought a one-woman campaign to ensure her son was not confined to a psychiatric hospital. We have come a great distance since then.

I have no intention of personalising an attack on the Minister or anybody else any more than I am interested in self-congratulatory speeches from the Government. Let us move on as this type of politics does not get us anywhere.