I met representatives of Parents of Autistic Children Together at the end of November 2000. It was agreed at that meeting that a number of issues which were raised by them would be followed up with the relevant services.
The question of assistance for families in relation to the dietary needs of their children is being followed up by my Department, as is the question of the involvement of appropriate medical personnel in a multi-disciplinary approach to the medical needs of this group.
My Department has also raised with the Department of Education and Science the need for increased pre-school provision and will continue to work with that Department in relation to this matter. I understand that the director of services for children on the autism spectrum in the eastern region has spoken to the parents about the query they had regarding the possible assignment of project workers to the outreach classes.
As part of the overall development of services to persons with autism and those with an intellectual disability in 2001, further additional revenue funding amounting to £625,000 in 2001, with a full year cost of £750,000 in 2002, has been allocated to the Eastern Regional Health Authority in respect of the provision of health related support services to children with autism. Capital funding of £1 million has also been made available to the authority for these services in 2001. As a result of this funding, an additional ten posts are in the process of being advertised for the various support teams, together with a further ten posts of family support worker. While the services continue to have vacancies within the existing support teams in the areas of speech and language and occupational therapy, the South Western Area Health Board is endeavouring to explore all possible options in relation to the recruitment of appropriate staff for the services.
