Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 February 2014
636. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health the eligibility criteria for early intervention services in respect of children under the age of six who have been diagnosed with autism; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that these services have been withdrawn from such children in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6781/14]
View answerSignificant resources have been invested by this country in recent years in services for children with special needs, including those with autism. The Government is committed to the provision and development of services for these children, having regard to available resources.
The HSE National Review of Autism Services: Past, Present and Way Forward Report (2012) and the Progressing Disabilities Services for Children and Young People (0-18s) Programme set out the overall policy context for the provision of autism services to children and young people. The objective of the Progressing Disabilities Programme for Children and Young People is to achieve a national, unified approach to delivering disability health services for children with a disability including those with autism so that there is a clear pathway to the services for all children, regardless of where they live, what school they go to or the nature of their disability. This Programme aims to remedy the variations in service provision that currently exist around the country. In 2014, the HSE are taking a number of key steps in implementing the change programme, including rolling out a new model of assessment and intervention, in line with the Progressing Disabilities Programme for Children and Young People. An additional €4 million has been allocated, which equates to 80 additional therapy staff, for these purposes.
My Department has asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to the operational issues that he has raised concerning the eligibility criteria for early intervention and the provision of services in Galway.
