Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 May 2014
115. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the State's current statutory obligations in relation to the provision of psychological, psychiatric and all other relevant services for children and young adults clinically diagnosed with autism and Asperger's syndrome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23439/14]
View answer117. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the courses of action open to parents and families who have children or members diagnosed with autism and who wish to seek redress for the State's failure to adhere to its minimum statutory obligations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23441/14]
View answer119. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health his view regarding the resources available within the health care system to deal with clinically assessing whether or not a child or adult has a condition on the autism spectrum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23443/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 115, 117 and 119 together.
Under the Health Act 2004, the Health Service Executive (HSE) is charged with managing and delivering, or arranging to be delivered on its behalf, health and personal social services to the population as a whole, from within available resources. Notwithstanding the existing financial pressures, the Government is fully committed to ensuring the on-going delivery of services and supports to children and adults with disabilities, including those with ASD. The HSE has been provided with funding in the order of €1.4 billion in 2014 to fund its disability services programme for children and adults with disabilities, including those with ASD. Services are provided in a variety of community and residential settings in partnership with service users, their families and carers and a range of statutory, non-statutory, voluntary and community groups.
Services provided include assessment, diagnosis and ongoing treatment and intervention supports. These may include home support services, respite services and multi-disciplinary team supports to assess the individual needs of each person with ASD and provide for the appropriate interventions. Part 2 of the Disability Act, 2005, also provides for an Assessment of Need process, which at present encompasses younger children. This process provides for the needs of eligible applicants, occasioned by their disability, to be assessed within specific timeframes.
The Health Service Executive's National Review of Autism Services: Past, Present and Way Forward Report (2012) and its National Programme on Progressing Disability Services for Children and Young People (0-18 years) set out the overall policy context for the provision of autism services to children and young people. The objective of the Progressing Children's Disability Services Programme is to achieve a national, unified approach to delivering disability health services. This Programme aims to ensure greater equity in accessing services, based on need, clearer referral pathways to these services and improved collaboration between the relevant sectors. An additional €4m has been specifically allocated in 2014 to drive implementation of the Programme. This equates to approximately 80 therapy posts. In addition, the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy has been examining issues around autism across Government Departments, in association with the National Disability Authority (NDA). This work by the NDA, which has included consultation with families, will be of significant assistance in informing how best to address the needs of people with ASD in order to ensure that they are appropriately reflected and included in policies and actions.
With regard to access to redress in general terms, the Health Act 2004, provides that all service users of the HSE have the right to make a complaint where they believe that the standards of care, treatment or practice fall short of what is acceptable. More information in relation to this complaints process is available on the HSE's website, www.hse.ie. In terms of seeking redress in relation to unmet statutory obligations, under the Disability Act, 2005, applicants for the Assessment of Need process have access to a dedicated redress system consisting of a complaints process to a designated Complaints Officers and an onward appeal to an independent Disability Appeals Officer.
