Vol. 481 No. 3
98 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the funding, if any, which is in place for the Western Health Board for the care of autistic children; the plans, if any, the health board have for care of autistic children; the number of cases in County Mayo of autism; and if he will make a statement on the care, education and support services available to autistic children in County Mayo. [16005/97]
100 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the precise number of staff who are fully trained in the special care of autistic children and people in the Western Health Board region. [16007/97]
101 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the precise number of autistic children and people in the Western Health Board region. [16008/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 98, 100 and 101 together.
The development of services for children and adults with autism in the western region is a matter in the first instance for the Western Health Board. In 1997 an allocation of £310,000, full year cost, was given to the Western Health Board for the development of services specifically for persons with autism. This is in addition to the allocation of £850,000 which was provided to the board for the development of generic services to persons with a mental handicap, including autism. Funding of £130,000 in 1996 and £62,000 in 1995 was also given to the board for the development of specific autism services.
A range of care and support services are available to persons with a mental handicap, including autism, in County Mayo. These include day, residential and respite services. I have asked the Western Health Board for further details on the precise services available which I will supply to the Deputy as soon as the information comes to hand.
The provision of educational services to children and adults with a mental handicap, including autism, is primarily the responsibility of the Department of Education and Science. I understand from my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science that children with autism have access to a range of educational and support services. The precise nature of the support provided depends on the severity of the condition in each individual case. The following special educational supports are provided at present in County Mayo: two special schools cater for children with mild mental handicap; two special schools cater for children with moderate mental handicap; three special classes for children with a mild mental handicap in mainstream national schools; 112 national schools with the services of a remedial teacher; 19 national schools with the services of a resource teacher.
The majority of children and adults with autism avail of the generic mental handicap services. The Government is committed to the continued development of services for persons with a mental handicap, including autism, as outlined in An Action Programme for the Millenium. Specialist services, which are required by a minority of persons with autism, are being developed in the Western Health Board. Planning for the development of further specialist facilities, as outlined in my Department's policy document on Services to Persons with Autism, which was published in 1994, is being included by the Western Health Board in their overall consideration of the needs of children and adults with a mental handicap and autism in their region.
99 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Health and Children the diagnostic and support services which are available to families with children or people suffering from autism. [16006/97]
The majority of persons with autism avail of the generic mental handicap services, including assessment and diagnostic services, day, residential, respite and home support services, which have been substantially enhanced in recent years.
Specialist services, which are required by a minority of persons with autism, are also being developed. Specialist residential and day services have recently been developed in the Eastern, North-Eastern, Southern and Western Health Boards bringing the total number of specialist residential places for persons with autism to approximately 140. Planning for the development of further specialist facilities including the enhancement of diagnostic services as outlined in my Department's Policy Document on Services to Persons with Autism, which was published in 1994, is being included by the health boards in their overall consideration of the needs of persons with a mental handicap and autism in their regions. The Irish Society for Autism, at the request of my Department, is also organising a number of training and information workshops for clinicians working in the area of diagnosis and ongoing care programmes and also for staff working with persons with autism.
