Services for People with Disabilities.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 November 2004

Wednesday, 17 November 2004

Questions (84, 85, 86, 87)

Olwyn Enright

Question:

119 Ms Enright asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the progress that has been made on the recommendation in the report of the task force on autism of October 2001 that a national ASD screening programme be established targeting public health nurses and general practitioners; if such a recommendation has been carried out; if so, the extent to which; if not completed, when it will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29387/04]

Olwyn Enright

Question:

120 Ms Enright asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the progress that has been made on the recommendation in the report of the task force on autism of October 2001 that health boards establish procedures for the assessment of possible ASD in the siblings of identified children; if such a recommendation has been carried out and the extent to which; if not completed, when it will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29389/04]

Olwyn Enright

Question:

121 Ms Enright asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the progress that has been made on the recommendation in the report of the task force on autism of October 2001 that relevant professionals and diagnostic services come together to establish agreed AS-HFA and autism assessment procedures and that they ensure continuity by using up to date and agreed diagnostic criteria for the accurate and early identification of classic autism, Asperger’s syndrome and PDD-NOS; if such a recommendation has been carried out and the extent to which; if not completed, when it will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29392/04]

Olwyn Enright

Question:

122 Ms Enright asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the progress that has been made on the recommendation in the report of the task force on autism of October 2001 that speech and language therapy training programmes include a module on differential diagnosis — language disorder-AS — so that speech and language therapists may more effectively refer for comprehensive assessment where indicated; if such a recommendation has been carried out and the extent to which; if not completed, when it will be completed; and if she will make statement on the matter. [29397/04]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. T. O’Malley)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 to 122, inclusive, together.

In line with the recommendations of the report of the task force on autism my Department has liaised with the Department of Education and Science in relation to the provision of the relevant health related support services.

Since 1998 €16 million has been invested in the early intervention, pre-school and multi-disciplinary support services to enhance access to those services by children with autism and those with intellectual disability. My Department is continuing to work with the health boards and the Department of Education and Science to further develop the necessary support services for people with autism.

Questions Nos. 123 and 124 withdrawn.