Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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2472. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality to outline her plans regarding the ongoing research and planning on the development of assistive technologies to be used to assist therapies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43544/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is 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).

Government also recognises the serious need to invest in AT due to the projected 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 an estimated 3.5bn people will need at least one form of AT by 2050 compared to the estimated 2.5bn in 2025.

In March 2024, the Government entered into a €12.524m donor agreement (split evenly over a period of five years) with the WHO to strengthen equitable access to assistive technology globally, with a focus on innovation in people-centred, rights-based service delivery models and harnessing the potential of digital assistive technology (DAT).

In addition, the Department is also progressing a Project Collaboration Agreement with the WHO which is focused on domestic objectives including workforce optimisation through DAT, hosting one of two Global DAT/Workforce Expos in Dublin and the delivery of an independent Assistive Technology Capacity (ATA-C) Review.

The ATA-C will evaluate Ireland’s capacity to provide equitable access to AT and was conducted by technical experts from the WHO Regional Office for Europe (WHO EUROPE). This process is nearing completion, and the recommendations will submitted to Government by the WHO EUROPE in the coming months and with inform Government on best approaches to improve assistive technology access.

This will, in turn, support the delivery of assistive technology in therapies and assist in identifying the tools needed by clinicians to increase effective service delivery.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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2473. To ask the Minister for Children, Disability and Equality if she will give an update on the progress of the AAC pilot with AsIAm; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43545/25]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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The AsIAm Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Support Programme was allocated funding to provide up to 511 high-tech AAC devices to non-speaking Autistic children via three referral pathways:

1: AAC Support Programme,

2: Device Funded Scheme,

3: Trial and Keep Scheme.

AsIAm have advised me that there has been a high degree of interest in the programme with 886 initial expressions of interest from families. These expressions of interest are then triaged by the programme team for eligibility, in a process managed by the programme team which includes 2 speech and language therapists.To-date 138 families have been allocated devices and associated support from Stream 1, exceeding the agreed target and demonstrating the need and demand for this support. A further 91 children have been allocated a device through a "trial and keep" or "device funded" basis.

The programme is on target to allocate the remaining devices in December, with a significant number of children expected to access Stream 1 which AsIAm has adapted to maximise the number of children they can support. Three blocks of the Support Programme have taken place to-date, alongside 8 associated training courses for teachers working with children on the programme. 5 community events for participating children and families have taken place to-date, with a summer camp planned for the week ahead.

AsIAm has produced an impact report on the success of the programme to-date and has contracted DCU to conduct an independent evaluation, in line with the commitment in the Autism Innovation Strategy.