Maire Devine (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Sinn Féin supports the Senator Reilly's Bill, which I warmly welcome. It has been a long time coming. The Bill deals with awareness-raising, advocacy and data collection, which will be very important into the future, and it is very welcome. If the legislation is enacted, these elements and all of the others it contains will make a real difference to the lives of persons and families affected by and dealing with autism in Ireland.

I usually stand up in here and am a bit of a grouch. I do not want to sound like a grouch. I just want to point out the real and present danger that what is intended by means of this wonderful Bill will not be realised unless the Minister provides adequate resources. The austerity years devastated families that had members with disabilities because they were left alone in their struggle. When I was a member of the nursing profession, I witnessed the isolation, fear, laughter, tears, despair and emotional rollercoaster that such families experienced at that time. They had very little back-up or support from the State and what did exist was mercilessly stripped away.

In terms of therapy supports, there is an 18-month waiting list for people with disabilities to be assessed. Such a situation completely disregards the Disability Act 200, which stipulates that assessment should take place within three months. The strategy stipulates that the State "should make provision for individual assessments of persons with autism spectrum disorder." How can that be achieved without real moola being provided? Funding is needed. In the absence of additional resources, these unacceptable waiting times will continue.The current assessment of needs is being implemented adequately under the Disability Act. Those with autism already receive an assessment and access to health care. However, parents are forced to spend hundreds of euro every month on private therapy for their children due to the lack of capacity in the public health care system. As the Minister knows, we need more speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, psychologists and psychotherapists in our public health service. Many of these health care professionals were culled from the health service when it was on its knees.

What is there to disagree with in this Bill? It mentions the specialist need with regard to autism. I warmly welcome any specialist service that will be provided to people and their families. We could focus on special needs assistants, SNAs, in schools, but that is probably for another phase.

This is a day to congratulate the Senator and to commend him, the people in the Gallery, and the petition for classrooms to be opened in all primary and secondary schools in Ireland. This is also a day to urge the Department to listen to the concerns of parents and teachers alike who signed the petition. They have told me of the many roadblocks they have to go through. Those involved in a school in Walkinstown continually fund-raise for its ASD classroom, but that cannot be sustained in the medium to long term. There would be burnout. I thank Senator Reilly for his emotional presence here today which reflects everyone else's experience. Members of this House reach out to the Senator and to those in the Public Gallery who allow us to hear at first hand the long-fought battle that has tested and reduced people's financial and emotional resources. It is two people standing up for people's rights and their children's rights and their children's future. We have been forced to become a more caring, understanding and embracing society and I am proud to live in it today.