Tom Shehan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Deenihan for his reply on behalf of the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Kathleen Lynch. I am quite disappointed that she does not feel there is a need to introduce a specific national autism awareness week. Why is that the case? We want to highlight autism and it would be of no cost to the State or Department. I believe strongly that we should have a national autism day and week in order to raise awareness of autism spectrum disorder. I will speak directly to the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch. The only direct question I have for her is why can we not have a national autism day and week to highlight autism, the people who suffer from it and the families that live with it every day?