Written Answers. - Autism Services.
David Stanton
Ceist:
322
Mr. Stanton
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
the number of adults and children known to his Department and to the health boards who can be described as autistic; the criteria recognised by his Department in diagnosing this condition; the supports and help provided by the State to these children and adults; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18760/98]
David Stanton
Ceist:
323
Mr. Stanton
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
his views on the effectiveness of applied behaviour analysis as therapy for the treatment of autism in pre-school years; whether any such therapy is available here; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[18761/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 322 and 323 together.
The national intellectual disability database, which was launched last year, includes information on the needs of all persons with a mental handicap including persons with autism although the specific disability is not included. As part of the implementation of the recommendations of a policy document on Services to Persons with Autism which was published by my Department in 1994, the health boards have been obtaining additional information on the needs of persons with autism in their regions and, in particular, on those who require or will require specialist services.
Due to problems with definition, the exact prevalence of autism in Ireland is still open to debate. Depending on the diagnostic criteria being applied, up to 5 per 10,000 children manifest autism to a marked degree. The diagnosis of autism is a clinical one, namely, it is based on a variety of observations rather than a defined laboratory investigation. Hence the concept of an "autistic spectrum" which stretches from those severely affected to those with only a mild disability. The officially recognised classification systems are those of DSM IV and ICD 10.
The majority of persons with autism avail of the generic mental handicap services, including assessment and diagnostic services, day, residential, respite and home support services, which have been substantially enhanced in recent years and which will continue to be developed in the future. A minority of persons with autism do require specialised facilities. Additional specific services for persons with autism have been provided in the Eastern, North-Eastern, Southern and Western Health Boards which now provide between 128 and 130 residential places overall. Planning for the development of further specialist facilities as outlined in my Department's policy document on autism is being included by the health boards in their overall consideration of the needs of persons with a mental handicap and autism in their regions. Additional funding amounting to £225,000 in 1994 £300,000 in 1995 and £500,000 in 1997 was made available for the development of services specifically for persons with autism in line with my Department's policy document.
Assessment, early intervention and other support services, including health related support services provided on an out-reach basis for children of school going age, will continue to be developed and enhanced. I was pleased to be able to allocate additional funding of £21 million in 1998 for services to persons with a mental handicap and autism. This includes £10.75 million for the development of new residential, respite and day care places and to meet identified needs in existing services. Capital funding of £10.25 million is also being provided in 1998, with £5.25 million of this funding being the first instalment of the £30 million national capital programme which I have put in place to run over four years in tandem with the service developments identified in An Assessment of Need for Services to Persons with a Mental Handicap 1997-2001. The assessment provides a comprehensive picture of the requirements for additional residential and day services for persons with a mental handicap, including those with autism, over the period concerned. The Government is committed to the ongoing development of the autism services as outlined in An Action Programme for the Millennium.
Behaviour management programmes are an integral part of all pre-school programmes whether for normal or developmentally delayed children including children with autism. Behaviour analysis is a requirement before behaviour management is instituted. The extent and depth of such analysis varies from programme to programme. There is no universally accepted programme based on one single theory. Consequently practice differs from one centre to another with many different programmes used in the care and development of services for children and adults with autism. Service providers in Ireland are well aware of these programmes and incorporate elements of some of these approaches in the programmes which they provide and which are designed to meet the needs of individual children and adults.
