Mary Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This morning, I share the great news with the House that Drumcondra is the first village in Ireland to receive the prestigious autism friendly award. The award celebrates communities across Ireland that have demonstrated a strong commitment to fostering autism inclusion and understanding. It is awarded by AsIAm, the autism campaigning organisation. The autism friendly project in Drumcondra has been driven by an amazing young woman, who is a mother, Lucy Crean, and others. In a voluntary capacity, they worked with stakeholders in the village and engaged more than 20 organisations and businesses, including the great GAA club, Na Fianna. Senators will all be familiar with its hurling prowess and success this year. Other businesses and organisations have also come on board, including the Drumcondra Triangle Residents Association, along with Dublin City University, DCU, other big stakeholders and some businesses in Drumcondra. It is a huge achievement and a great signal and it sends out a strong message of inclusion and understanding of diversity in our village of Drumcondra and our capital more widely. I thank everyone who supported the initiative and congratulate everyone on the prestigious achievement of making Drumcondra a village and community that is autism friendly and a place where everyone can feel included, supported and understood.