Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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15. To ask the Minister for Health the status of the review of autism services which took place in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28289/18]

Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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My portfolio includes disability related matters in the Department of Justice and Equality and that Department has responsibility for the promotion and co-ordination of disability policy, including the development of the National Disability Implementation Plan.  In this context, the Department coordinated the development of a Programme of Additional Actions in relation to Autism in conjunction with the National Disability Authority through the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy and Public Service Reform.

The Programme of Actions on Autism is in keeping with the cross disability, whole of government, social model of disability approach set out in the National Disability Strategy Implementation Plan. This recognises that an increased understanding of autism across the public sector is required to ensure that the implementation of the Plan addresses the needs of people with autism on an equal basis to other people with disabilities.

The overarching principle governing the planning and delivery of health services and supports for adults and children with disabilities including autism is that they should be integrated, as much as possible, with services and supports for the rest of the population. The Government’s agenda in this regard is clearly set out in the current National Disability Strategy which is based on a non-condition specific approach to the delivery of public services and the mainstreaming agenda.

The Minister for Health, in 2017 asked the HSE to carry out a review of the level of supports and services to people with autism spectrum disorder. A cross divisional working group was established by the HSE, lead by Chief Officer Tony Canavan, to undertake the review. The role of the group was to examine the operational effectiveness of existing health service responses in addressing the particular needs of those with autism spectrum disorder and seek to identify models of good practice.

In conjunction with the HSE review of services,the Department of Health carried out a review of data sources and an epidemiological study into the prevalence and future projections for Autism Spectrum disorder earlier this year.

The Minister, Deputy Harris, and I are currently considering the findings from both the working group and the review of research.