James Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 5:

In page 6, between lines 1 and 2, to insert the following:“(3) The Autism Spectrum Disorder Strategy shall include a costed implementation plan which may be incremental.”.

The inclusion of "costed implementation plan" makes it much more real and more palpable to people that this will be done and that it will be properly costed. It does not necessarily imply that there will be increased costs. There may be increased costs - who is to say? - because within a budget of €13 billion or €14 billion into the future there is plenty of latitude for movement and for reorganisation. The reason we say that it may be incremental is to allow it to be implemented as quickly as possible and allow for more money to be put into it if that need becomes apparent as the strategy is implemented.

Amendment No. 6 states:

In page 6, line 4, after “Strategy” to insert “, in consultation with other relevant Government Departments”.

This is for clarity and to emphasise that this is not a Department of Health issue alone. This goes right across Government. If we are to have any chance of success the Departments covering education, transport, housing, the environment must be involved and consulted. Virtually anything one cares to mention is going to be impacted because people with autism, no more than the ordinary citizen, are in all walks of life, in all parts of the country in all sorts of geographical settings. Their needs in this area must be addressed. No Department will be without responsibility here, but if everybody is responsible then nobody is responsible. This is why the Minister for Health will be responsible. The purpose of amendment No. 6 is to emphasise the fact that all the Departments will have an obligation to consult and support the Minister.