Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 July 2022
665. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will establish a fund to allocate core funding to allow for the creation and further development of grassroots and autistic-led initiatives to address loneliness, social isolation and tackle stigma amongst autistic children and adults. [37174/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am acutely aware of the challenges facing people with autism in Ireland at all stages of their lives, including loneliness, social isolation and stigma which present real barriers to the full inclusion of people with autism in our society.
It is for this reason that as Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Disability, I have prioritised the development of a national Autism Innovation Strategy which will seek to deliver real and tangible solutions to address the challenges and barriers faced by people with autism across Ireland. This Strategy will identify bespoke needs not currently being met in broader disability supports, and will sit harmoniously in the context of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy and the Comprehensive Employment Strategy for People with Disabilities.
At present, there are no plans to establish a dedicated fund for the purposes of supporting autistic-led initiatives. However, where bespoke and unmet needs are identified, they will be considered in the development of the Autism Innovation Strategy.
It is important to note that neurodiverse people are already supported through the provision of broader supports for persons with disabilities.
Funding streams are already in place to support community initiatives for all people with disabilities, including those with autism. In October 2021, I was delighted to launch a new annual Disability Participation and Awareness Fund (DPAF) worth €2.5 million in 2021. The purpose of DPAF is to provide funding to support the participation of people with disabilities in local activities and to remove barriers to community involvement. Through DPAF 2021, funding was provided for a number of projects that aimed to support people with disabilities, including those with autism and neurodiversity, to participate and engage more fully in their local communities. Work is underway on a follow-on fund which will be awarded this year.
In addition to these wider supports, funding is being provided by the HSE for a dedicated telephone information line for the autistic community, which is being operated by AsIAm. The Autism Information Line provides evidence-based information and a port of call for individuals with autism and families to work through specific issues or challenges.
