John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 208: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the number of children diagnosed with autism ten years ago and the number at present; the reason for this increase; the action her Department is taking to address this problem; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21769/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The National Intellectual Disability Database was established in 1995 to ensure that information is available to enable the Department of Health and Children, the Health Service Executive and the voluntary agencies in Ireland to provide appropriate services designed to meet the changing needs of people with intellectual disability and those with autism and their families. The objective is to obtain information on every individual known to have an intellectual disability and/or autism and assessed as being in receipt of, or in need of an appropriate service. However, the Database does not give specific information in relation to the number of people with autism, as information pertaining to clinical diagnosis is specifically excluded. These information systems are being examined in the light of the requirements under the Disability Act 2005.

The Health Act, 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. The Deputy's question in relation to the numbers of children diagnosed with autism over the past ten years relates to the management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Executive under the Act. Accordingly, my Department has requested the parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

I am advised that the Health Service Executive provide a continuum of service provision for children with autism including Family Support Services and Pre-School Assistant Services, specialised multi-disciplinary teams where required, residential services, respite and other services. This continuum of services is based on assessed need and prioritised in a manner which is consistent with available resources. The Health Service Executive states that the provisions of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act, 2004, when implemented, will facilitate the provision of health related supports in the school setting where these are deemed to be necessary for young people to achieve their educational outcome.

Under the Multi-Annual Investment Programme 2006-2009, which is part of the National Disability Strategy, additional funding amounting to €51.5m is being provided by the Government in 2006 to meet costs associated with the provision of certain specific high profile disability services. In relation to services for persons with intellectual disability and those with autism, this includes: 255 new residential places; 85 new respite places; 535 new day places and the continuation of the implementation of the transfer of persons with intellectual disability/autism from psychiatric hospitals and other inappropriate placements.

In addition to the services mentioned above, further additional funding of €22.5m is also being provided in 2006 to enhance the multi-disciplinary support services for children and adults with physical, sensory and intellectual disabilities and those with autism and to address core underfunding and core staffing issues in services for people with disabilities provided by the voluntary sector. This additional funding is in line with the Government's commitment to enhance multi-disciplinary support services for people with disabilities and increase the capacity of the health services to deliver on the various legislative provisions contained in the National Disability Strategy.

Capital funding amounting to €45m has also been provided in 2006 to support additional places in services for persons with a physical, sensory or intellectual disability or autism.