Dan Neville
Question:164 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Health and Children the number of people who are autistic in each county. [13776/00]
Written Answers - Autism Services.
Dan Neville
Question:177 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will outline the services from the health services for people who are autistic. [13883/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 164 and 177 together.
As the Deputy is aware, the provision of health related support services for children and adults with autism is the responsibility of the health boards and the Eastern Regional Health Authority in the first instance. These services include assessment, early intervention services, outreach services provided by multidisciplinary support teams, day, residential and respite services. While new additional services specifically for persons with autism have been and will continue to be developed, many persons with autism are in receipt of services within the intellectual disability services and have benefited generally from the development of new residential, respite and day services which have been substantially enhanced in recent years. However, the Government recognised that there was a need to accelerate the pace at which the identified needs of persons with autism and those with an intellectual disability were being met and is committed to meeting those needs within a defined timeframe of three years, starting with a major acceleration of investment, both capital and revenue, this year.
The additional revenue funding being allocated in 2000 is designed to support the opening of additional services with an annual cost of £35 million. The services being provided with this funding include the development and enhancement of health related support services for persons with autism. Additional capital funding amounting to £80 million is being made available over the three year period 2000 to 2002 to accelerate the process of putting in place the necessary infrastructure to support the services.
Additional funding amounting to approximately £5 million has been allocated since 1998 to enhance the early intervention, pre-school and outreach services for children of school going age with autism. These services are provided by multidisciplinary support teams and include the provision of speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, nursing, psychological and social work support services. The multidisciplinary teams work closely with the parents and families of children with autism to address their needs. The provision of educational services for children with special needs, including those with autism, is the responsibility of the Department of Education and Science. In recent years there has been a significant expansion of these services and my Department, in conjunction with the health boards, has worked closely with the Department of Education and Science to provide health related support services to school going children with autism. Both Departments will continue to work together to address the needs of these children.
Officials in my Department are currently liaising with the health boards in relation to the information requested by the Deputy concerning the number of persons with autism and I will forward this to the Deputy as soon as possible.