Written Answers. - Autism Incidence.
Bernard Allen
Ceist:
362
Mr. Allen
asked the
Minister for Health and Children
if he will make a statement on the increase in autism among young children in recent years; if he will address the fears that exist that the rate of occurrence is on an upward spiral and cannot be supported by current health services.
[17047/01]
There has been an increase in recent years in the numbers of children being diagnosed with autism. Similar increases have also been experienced in other European countries and the USA. The diagnosis of autism is a clinical one, based on a variety of observations rather than a defined laboratory investigation. Hence the evolving concept of an "autistic spectrum" which stretches from those severely affected to those with only a mild disability. There is increasing recognition of autism in Ireland and in other countries. What is not clear, however, is whether the increase is due to a greater awareness leading to better ascertainment or whether there is actually a true increase in the prevalence of autism.
In recent years, as part of the overall planning and development of services for persons with autism, the health boards have been obtaining additional information on the needs of this group in their regions and in particular in relation to those who require or will require specialist services. My Department is also working with the health boards and the Eastern Regional Health Authority to establish an information system which will provide accurate data on the numbers of persons with autism and their service needs.
In addition to providing additional residential, respite and day places for persons with autism in recent years as part of the overall ongoing development of services to persons with autism and those with an intellectual disability, specific funding has also been targeted to enhance the level of support available to children with autism and their families. Between 1998 and 2000, £5 million in additional funding was provided to expand the level of health related support services available to children with autism and their families. This would include assessment and diagnostic services, early intervention, pre-school services and outreach services to schoolchildren, respite and home support services. These services are provided by multi-disciplinary teams which include speech and language and occupational therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, nursing, project workers and other support staff.
In 2001 a further £3 million, increasing to £3.5 million in 2002, has been provided to further increase the level of health related support services to children with autism and those with an intellectual disability.
However, health boards and other service providers have been encountering difficulties in both recruiting and retaining the allied health professionals necessary to deliver the various therapy services. In acknowledgement of these difficulties, my Department has asked the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the health boards to explore other possibilities with a view to facilitating as many children as possible to access the necessary support services. This might include the purchase of additional sessions which may result in either the maintenance of the existing level of service provision or an enhancement in line with agreed service developments, using the resources which have been allocated for these services. It is a matter for each health board and the authority to determine what additional measures the service in their regions might undertake to facilitate this access. Health boards and other service providers have also been working together in the area of autism and intellectual disability to maximise the outcomes from recruitment drives both at home and abroad.
Some work remains to be done in finalising the report which I commissioned from Dr. Peter Bacon and Associates in relation to workforce planning for therapists. I expect this will be completed shortly and I am making arrangements to publish the report in a few weeks time. Developments arising from the implementation of the recommendations contained in this report, together with some initial measures which my Department has already taken to increase the number of training places for certain allied health professions, will provide for an increasing number of trained personnel for the services.
Another measure which has been taken to assist parents in this area is section 8 of the Finance Act, 2001, which amends section 469 of the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997, to extend tax relief for medical expenses to cover the cost of educational psychological assessment and speech and language therapy services for children.
Finally, I assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to the ongoing development of the services required to support persons with autism and their families.
Questions Nos. 363 and 364 answered with Question No. 313.
