Grace O'Sullivan (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the proposal from the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, to set up a working group to progress this legislation and collate data to support an autism strategy. I thank Senator Reilly and commend him on introducing this important Bill. Senator Reilly, myself, the Minister and many others in the Oireachtas have personal experiences of dealing with the often-disconnected services for family members of those with autism. Some families are at their wits' end trying to cope with the challenges that go hand in hand with the condition of autism. I have heard multiple stories from families with experience of autism with whom I have come into contact since my election last year. Theirs is often a tale of frustration and desperation as they try to get access to the various services necessary in the face of a sometimes seemingly uncaring bureaucracy.

There is a serious lack of cohesion when it comes to support, as well as a widespread lack of information of the available services. Let us consider the example of the Maher couple from County Kilkenny. The autism of their son, Michael, has led to a situation where the family have been essentially confined to their home. They have suffered extraordinary stress as they have tried to cope with an increasingly challenging situation. The Maher parents are dedicated to the well-being of their 17 year old son. Michael's father had to give up his job so he could provide the care his son needed. Thankfully, in this case, Michael's parents have managed to secure a place at a school in Waterford that can give him the support he needs. Many others I have talked to have not yet been so fortunate.

We can see the mental health effects that disconnected services create. Those suffering from autism and those providing care for them can be deeply affected by the inconsistency in the way individual cases are handled, the lack of resources in schools and the feelings of being ostracised that accompany a lack of social and community involvement. A Waterford couple I spoke to told me of the difficulties they were having in getting public access to a child psychologist. Their daughter was left on a waiting list that was going nowhere. The mother referred to the way her daughter has been treated by the system as disrespectful and as a violation of human rights. She spoke of the hypocrisy whereby families who are not in a financial position to access private psychological services may be left on public waiting lists for years while the same service provider will provide appointments within approximately two weeks if the family is in a position to fork out €900.

My eldest daughter, Emer, who is now 25, was identified at an early age as being on the autistic spectrum. She received back-up and support. She got physiotherapy and occupational and speech therapy from an early age. They have had a major impact on her development. Emer and my family received all the support we needed to ensure that she had the best possible opportunity to reach her potential. She got an excellent level of care that helped to shape her into the bubbly, popular, socially adjusted, proud and integrated young woman she is today. Here is the thing: Emer was born in the Netherlands and that was where we lived for the first years of her life. I am a proud Irishwoman but I am glad my daughter was born in the Netherlands, where we had access to a coherent and comprehensive system of services and supports.

Where appropriate and timely interventions are available, we see positive outcomes. We need a national autism strategy urgently. We need an integrated approach. Families desperately need support. Families need to be spared the challenges of begging for care and access and for the right of their loved ones with autism to find the self-realisation adverted to by the Leader, Senator Buttimer.

I sincerely thank Senator Reilly for bringing this Bill to the House. I am happy to support the Autism Spectrum Disorder Bill 2017 and I hope it passes through the House quickly.