Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

486. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to report on the progress of implementing the actions set out in the autism innovation strategy. [31674/25]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Autism Innovation Strategy was published in August 2024. The Strategy contains 83 actions across four core pillars which will be delivered within the 18-month lifespan of the Strategy.

11 Government Departments and related public bodies have committed to leading on, or supporting, actions in the Strategy. This Government is committed to the full implementation of the Strategy, and this is reflected in the Programme for Government. I am pleased to report that strong progress is being made across all thematic pillars by the lead Departments and agencies.

To ensure delivery of this ambitious Strategy, a robust oversight and monitoring architecture is required. At the centre of this is the Autism Innovation Strategy Oversight and Advisory Group. This stakeholder group, which is majority neurodivergent, plays a key role in monitoring the implementation of the Strategy, and in providing constructive advice to guide whole-of-Government work on autism based on the lived experience and expertise of group members. This group meets quarterly.

At 6-month intervals, the Oversight and Advisory Group will consider progress reports prepared by the relevant Departments and Agencies. The first round of reports has been received by the Group for their consideration, highlighting progress made over the first 6 months of the Strategy. Where the Oversight and Advisory Group has identified priority areas for delivery, these have been, and will continue to be, escalated to the Strategy Steering Committee. This Group is chaired by the Minister of State for Disability and comprises representatives from relevant departments and agencies as well as representatives from the Oversight and Advisory Group. This Group meets at 6 month intervals, with the first meeting being held in March of this year.

With respect to the seven actions within the remit of my own Department, I am pleased to say that we are on track to deliver upon these commitments within the projected implementation timeframe.