asked the Minister for Health if he has any plans for the development of a comprehensive service for the treatment of autistic children; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
237.
Written Answers. - Psychiatric Services.
236.
asked the Minister for Health if he has any plans to implement recommendations 17 and 18 of the 1984 report by the study group on the development of psychiatric services: The Psychiatric Services — Planning for the Future; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
238.
(Limerick East) asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the inadequacy of services provided for autistic children and adults; if he plans to implement the recommendations of the report published in 1984 The Psychiatric Services — Planning for the Future; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
241.
asked the Minister for Health if he has received a request from the Irish Society for Autistic Children to implement recommendations of the report on the psychiatric services in Ireland to the effect that children in whom autism is suspected be referred to a specialised centre where assessment can take place and that health boards should assess the services they have available for autistic children in order to prepare a plan for the development of a comprehensive service for autistic children; and the steps he has taken or intends to take to implement these recommendations.
243.
asked the Minister for Health if he has satisfied himself with the adequacy of provision of services for autistic children in relation to the recommendations of the report The Psychiatric Services — Planning for the Future in relation to the psychiatric services; the assessment which has been carried out within health boards as to the services for autistic children; if he will ensure that a development plan for such a comprehensive service will be drawn up to meet their needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Question Nos. 236, 237, 238, 241 and 243 together.
I am committed to implementing the recommendations made in The Psychiatric Services — Planning for the Future, in relation to services for the autistic, having regard to developments in the understanding of autism which have taken place since the report was completed in 1984.
While I accept that there are aspects of services for autistic children and adults which need to be improved, considerable progress is being made in addressing the most urgent problems. The present arrangements for the assessment and diagnosis of autism and the planning of care programmes tailored to the needs of each individual child are being reviewed. Consideration is being given to concentrating assessment and diagnosis of autism at a small number of centres, in order to develop greater expertise. I expect that decisions on this will be taken very soon.
In the Eastern Health Board area, a number of important developments in services for adolescents and adults are taking place. Additional residential facilities have already been provided to service the needs of people on both the north and south sides of Dublin. Planning of a further 12 residential places and day care facilities for about 25 people on the north side of the city is at an advanced stage. I expect that the plan will be agreed this month and that implementation will commence before the end of this year. New and additional residential places for very disturbed patients will also become available this year. The provision of these facilities should meet the requirements for the adult autistics in the Eastern Health Board area for the next five years.
The facilities at Dunfirth House, County Kildare, have been extended to provide a further 12 residential places and these will be brought into service on a phased basis.
The position under other health boards is being reviewed regularly by my Department in consultation with officers of the boards. Particular attention is being given to those areas in which assessment services have not been fully developed.
Deputies can be assured that services for autistic people will continue to be maintained and developed in a planned and purposeful manner. Experience of the implementation of the reorganisation of psychiatric services, as recommended in The Psychiatric Services — Planning for the Future, indicates that resources can be identified within the overall budget now devoted to those services to enable greater attention to be given to the needs of groups with special needs, such as autistic children and adults. I am optimistic that, despite the limitations on the overall resources available, we can steadily improve all aspects of the services for autistic people.