Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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27. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the nature and type of new therapies, including new technologies, to assist children with autism and disabilities that have been approved and introduced since 2021 by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43551/24]

Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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Consideration for additions to the scope of clinical therapies requires such therapies to be evidence informed, in collaboration with key stakeholders and expertise as appropriate. There are processes regarding regulation and registration across health and social care, to ensure best practice, which would need to be adhered to and this takes time to establish.

The Government has committed to supporting the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and this also encompasses the inclusion of persons in society through the use of assistive technology (AT).

Assistive Technology covers a broad spectrum of technology, from low level vision aids to augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) tablets, which assist children or adults with a verbal impairment.

It is also recognised that the need for assistive technology will continue to rise due to the increase in non-communicable diseases and aging populations. The 2022 Global Report on Assistive Technology (GReAT) published by UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) outlines this, stating that c3.5bn people will need at lease one form of AT by 2050.

The Department is progressing work with WHO Europe around a collaboration agreement on Digital Assistive Technology (DAT). This partnership will include three core streams of work covering:

1. A review of Ireland’s assistive technology capacity through a multi-stakeholder approach;

2. The development of workforce optimisation initiatives using digital tools focusing on assessments and intervention and;

3. Progressing 2 Global DAT/Workforce Expos with the first hosted by Ireland.

Additionally, the Department has funded specific supports for children with Autism needing assistive technology through the AAC Support Programme by AsIAm. This initiative supports children with additional communication needs through the provision of information and training to the key stakeholders in a child’s life and supports the provision of an AAC device best suited to the child’s needs.