Naoise Ó Muirí (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

120. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the steps being taken to fulfil the Programme for Government commitment to place an autism innovation strategy on a statutory footing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32105/25]

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

The Autism Innovation Strategy was launched on 26 August 2024. This ambitious Strategy contains 83 actions formulated to make a meaningful difference to the lives of autistic people over the 18-month timeframe of the Strategy, and which provide a solid foundation for improved mainstream accommodation of autism. The Programme for Government contains a commitment to the full implementation of the Strategy, and this is my immediate priority.

The Programme for Government also commits to placing an autism strategy on a statutory footing. Consideration of how best to approach this commitment will be undertaken in the context of a planned wider review of disability legislation encompassing a number of disability issues, including the Disability Act 2005, Irish Sign Language Act 2017, and the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Acts.