Vol. 563 No. 1
385 Ms M. Wallace asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to the recent developments in special education (details supplied); his views on the concerns of parents of children in the special autism educational units who need criteria from his Department on the provision of dedicated therapists for this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7044/03]
Responsibility for the provision of services to persons with an intellectual disability and those with autism in the Meath Area is a matter for the North-Eastern Health Board.
In response to the Deputy's question the North-Eastern Health Board has informed my Department that funding for the health related needs of autistic services in County Meath are allocated on a county basis to an autism specific team. The resources available for autism specific services in 2003 remain unchanged from 2002. However, due to a continuing significant rise in the numbers of children with autism in the county, it has been necessary for the health board to review the use of the available resources. For the past four years, the North-Eastern Health Board has primarily focused this resource on providing health related supports to children with autism attending a small number of educational placements in County Meath. With a large increase in children not in mainstream or special school educational placements, the board made a decision in 2003 to utilise this resource for the benefit of those children. These children greatly outnumber those in school placements and are primarily of the pre-school age group.
The North-Eastern Health Board is aware that children who have to date received a high quality service through their partnership with the special class educational model will be disadvantaged by this decision. The board, however, is continuing to explore all available options to ensure that their therapeutic needs can be met. The task force on autism has recommended that the therapy needs for children with autism in education could be met by the educational services.
The North-Eastern Health Board state that it is open to the provision of these therapeutic services using any agreed model of resourcing and delivery and is committed to working in partnership with the education services to explore all possible options.
386 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if a person (details supplied) will be provided with a service; and if the delay will stop before the family is forced to take the legal route to achieve services. [6895/03]
Responsibility for the provision of services to persons with an intellectual disability or autism in the Dublin region lies with the Eastern Regional Health Authority. My Department therefore, has asked the regional chief executive of the authority to investigate the matter and reply directly to the Deputy.
