Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I extend good wishes to former councillor, Noel Collins, who stepped down from Cork County Council on Monday after 55 years of service to the community of Midleton and the surrounding areas. Mr. Collins was chairman of Cork County Council and he had a unique style of representation. He had no mobile phone, computer or social media. He held his clinic by sitting on the wall outside the church in Midleton every Saturday and yet in the 2019 local elections he topped the poll. Perhaps there is a lesson in that. I wish him well after 55 years of loyal service to the people of Cork.

I would also like to welcome Cara and her parents to the Gallery and I congratulate her on what she is about to embark on. I admire her courage and determination and she is welcome to Seanad Éireann.

As the Leas-Chathaoirleach will know, AsIAm is the charity that supports people with autism in this country and it is running a survey to establish the number of people with autism who are not in appropriate schools, who are not in schools at all or who are travelling long distances to get to schools. There is no proper database available that people can readily access on people with autism and their access to education. Education is a right in this country but unfortunately and sadly, it is not a right for all families. It should not be down to AsIAm to establish the facts surrounding this; rather the Government needs to lead on it. However, I would encourage every family that has a child or young person with autism who is not accessing appropriate education to fill out the survey, which will enable AsIAm to campaign effectively for more resources, including targeted resources, and to ensure the resources are focused in the right direction.