Finian McGrath
Question:3 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the special provision her Department has for families of autistic persons; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5042/03]
Ceisteanna – Questions. Priority Questions. - Autism Services.
The provision of special services for people with autism and their families is primarily a matter for the regional health boards and for the educational services and therefore, falls within the responsibility of my colleagues, the Minister for Health and Children and the Minister for Education and Science. While my own Department does not operate any specific programmes for autistic people and their families, there is, however, a range of income maintenance payments available for people with disabilities in general and also for those caring for them. Of most relevance in the case of people with autism themselves is the disability allowance scheme, which is a means tested payment for people aged between 16 and 66 years who have a disability which substantially restricts their capacity to work.
In addition, there are a number of income support payments available to those providing full-time care and attention. For example, the carer's allowance is a social assistance payment which provides income support to people who are providing certain elderly or incapacitated persons with full-time care and attention and whose incomes fall below a certain limit. Carer's benefit is available to insured persons who temporarily leave the workforce to care for persons in need of full-time care. The associated carer's leave, which was introduced by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in October 2000, protects the employment rights of carers for up to 15 months if they leave work to take up caring duties. These caring payments and leave arrangements are available to people who are providing care on a full-time basis, including family members caring for a person with autism.
There are a number of additional supports available from my Department which are also of relevance, including the respite care grant, which is paid to carers who are in receipt of carer's allowance and to other carers who are caring for recipients of a constant attendance or prescribed relative's allowance. This grant makes a contribution towards respite care and may be used by recipients as they wish.
The provision and availability of respite care services, in general, is the responsibility of the Department of Health and Children. Recipients of disability allowance and carer's allowance are entitled to the free travel pass. In the case of recipients of disability allowance who are medically unfit to travel alone, a companion free travel pass will be issued.
Additional Information
The household benefits package, which consists of three allowances, namely, the electricity-gas allowance, the telephone allowance and free television licence, is also available to recipients of carer's allowance and disability allowance.
The development of the range of supports for carers continues to be a priority for the Government and we will continue to develop the types of services which provide real support and practical assistance to carers.
I tabled this question to the Minister because the issue it raises, particularly as it relates to autistic persons, is a family one. I want a straight answer to a direct question. Would you accept circumstances in which you were forced to send your children to a school in, say, Galway or Kerry?
An Leas-Cheann Comhairle:
The Deputy should address the Minister through the Chair.
I apologise. If she would not accept such circumstances, why must families of children with disabilities accept services, particularly schools, being located a long distance from their homes? Why should they accept residential places which force children to live more than 150 kilometres from their parents and the security of their families from Monday to Friday? Why must families of children with disabilities constantly suffer this indignity? Will the Minister demand that services for children and adults with disabilities be located near their homes during the lifetime of this Government? Does she accept this would be good for the children, their families and taxpayers? Does she find it immoral and outrageous that a bank was able to announce profits of €1.4 billion yesterday, yet her Government cannot find the €35 million necessary to fund services for people with disabilities, particularly people with autism?
I will be accused of fobbing off the question because I do not have direct responsibility for education or health. My Department is responsible for carer's allowance and income supports. For this reason, my remarks are spoken in a personal rather than ministerial capacity. Like many Members of the House, I am aware of the difficulties we have in the area of autism, as I have an autistic brother-in-law and a deaf child. I appreciate there are significant difficulties in getting full, multi-disciplinary support for people with disabilities and, as a former school teacher, the Deputy will also be aware of these difficulties.
The Government, in consultation with many Departments, has developed support for people with disabilities, whether autistic children or older people who suffer from autism. The issue of intellectual and physical disability will be addressed in a concerted manner during the term of this Government. I appreciate the Deputy's concerns as I come from a rural community where it is often difficult to find the professionals required for this task. Their recruitment is not being hindered. The problem is finding sufficient numbers of them to provide a multi-disciplinary support service.
With the exception of cases in which professionals advise otherwise, children should be kept in their communities and attend local national and secondary schools. I am sure the Deputy will agree that there has been huge progress in the provision of child care assistants, resource teachers and a range of other supports. In the area of autism, in particular, there has been significant progress and change in terms of introducing special classes for autistic children within the primary school system. This has been an invaluable source of relief to parents and children and has been of great benefit to the other children attending the schools in question. We will vigorously pursue policies to provide the necessary supports for children with disabiities. My Department will examine the income supports necessary for older people with disability and children.
The reality for many families of children with disabilities, for example visually impaired children, is that many have to travel to the North for services. This is not an adequate response from the State. Likewise, we had the example this morning of a school being opened for children with autism in Drogheda. Families from Dublin must send their children to Drogheda to get an education. As a parent of a child with a disability, I do not accept that their rights are being enforced and the Government has a responsibility to do something about it.