Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 14 Feb 1995

Vol. 449 No. 1

Written Answers. - Higashi Clinic for Autistic Children.

Mary Harney

Ceist:

80 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Health, in view of the financial and health needs of the family of autistic twin boys (details supplied) in Cork, if he will make funding available to enable this family to travel to the United States of America to participate in the programme at the Higashi Clinic in Boston; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3272/95]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): These twin boys currently attend a Child Education and Development Centre in Cork run by the Brothers of Charity services, who provide specialist services for children and adults with autism in the Cork area.

In view of the significant and continuing improvements in the level and range of services available here, the Deputy will appreciate it is only in exceptional cases that the need arises for individuals to be placed in services outside this country.

Before a formal application is made to my Department regarding the provision of services for persons abroad, the health board in question must be satisfied that the individual concerned requires a level of service or treatment which is not available to them in this country and that the person concerned is likely to benefit from the treatment. In this instance, the Southern Health Board has sought my Department's advice.

The Department has been examining the content and likely benefit of a number of alternative programmes available abroad for the treatment of autism, including the services available at the Boston clinic. Unfortunately, it has not been possible to date to establish clearcut evidence which would support the view that significant and continuing benefit can be derived from these programmes.I have asked my Department to intensify its examination of innovative approaches and to make recommendations to me as soon as possible.