Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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637. To ask the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the impact that cuts to Health Service Executive Beechpark Autism services are having on schools with ASD classes, particularly in relation to schools in Dublin North Central and Dublin North-East; and if he has any plans to ease the burden on both schools and children affected by these cuts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18822/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed to protecting front-line services, including services for children with disabilities and autism, to the greatest possible extent by seeking to maximise the provision of services within available resources. Beechpark is a regional HSE service which provides clinical supports for children with a specific diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorder up to 18 years of age who attend designated special schools, outreach preschools and outreach classes in Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow. The service has to operate within the financial and other parameters applying.

Importantly, the Beechpark service is working with local implementation groups to progress disability services for children and young people across the HSE's Dublin north-east and Dublin-mid-Leinster areas. They are focussing on the current service model and service delivery structure provided by all service providers in the area, with a view to addressing the realignment of resources in the context of the report of the national reference group, the national review of autism services report and the progressing disability services programme. This issue is also being examined by the independent Dublin Beechpark service review group.

While the current economic position presents challenges in how best to maximise the provision of services with available resources, I am committed to protecting front-line services, including children's disability and autism services to the greatest extent possible. In that context, I have raised my concerns with the HSE regarding staff rotation and the impact of the public sector recruitment moratorium on front-line staff, especially therapists. I will also continue to work closely with the Minister of State responsible, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, to address this matter.