Written answers
Tuesday, 4 July 2023
Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
Departmental Strategies
Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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110. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on the Autism Innovation Oversight and Advisory Group; when the next public consultation to finalise the Autism Innovation Strategy will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32245/23]
Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government contains a commitment to action on autism. The development of a new national strategy, the Autism Innovation Strategy, is currently underway. This is an important priority for me as Minister of State.
The Autism Innovation Strategy will aim to identify ways to address the bespoke challenges faced by Autistic people and provide the building blocks for a more autism-inclusive society.
A number of steps have been taken to progress development of the strategy and I have been very clear that I want the Autistic community to be at the centre of this process. This has included the appointment of the Autism Innovation Strategy Oversight and Advisory Group, following an application process.
This group, which is majority neurodiverse, will play a key role in monitoring implementation of the strategy, and in providing constructive advice based on the lived experience and expertise of group members.
The group was formally appointed and met for the first time in December 2022 and subsequently in April 2023. I was delighted to chair these meetings. Further meetings will be arranged as the development of the strategy progresses.
An initial public consultation was held in April/May 2022 to capture the views and priorities of the Autistic community. A report summarising the feedback received was published in April 2023. This is being carefully considered as part of the drafting process for the strategy.
Attention has now turned to drafting of the strategy. My Department is engaging in bilateral negotiations across Government to identify actions in the strategy. The focus is on identifying autism specific actions that can make a meaningful difference to people’s daily lives within the 12-18 month time frame of the strategy.
It is my intention to convene a further public consultation later in 2023. This will give all interested stakeholders a further opportunity to have their say on the strategy prior to its finalisation.
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