The Dáil has been alerted to the essential role of legislation in ensuring the enactment of the new autism strategy. Pauline Tully, Sinn Féin’s disability spokesperson, appreciated the pledge to announce a new strategy by early April, but underscored the importance of making legislative changes to guarantee its observance.
Opening the Dáil discussion about the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism’s final report was the role of the Cavan-Monaghan TD. She insisted on acting swiftly on all 109 propositions given in the report. The report urged the government to enact laws mandating a tri-yearly review job and every year’s communication about the strategy to the Dáil and Seanad by the minister in charge of disabilities.
The government’s encouragement to form a regulation or supervisory body, which would involve people with autism in fashioning long-term safeguards, and prescriptive training of health and social care providers on autism were also included in the report’s suggestions.
Repeated disappointments from the State led to a lack of faith amongst the Irish autistic community about any improvements in the services. However, the legislation can restore some trust by provisioning urgently required services.
Ms Tully unveiled disturbing testimonies heard by the committee from healthcare staff and people with autism concerning the insufficient delivery of healthcare and psychological assistance. The committee urged for one clearly defined access point to children’s disability services, highlighting its vitality as children with autism are currently being bounced around between services.
Several witnesses blamed Camhs (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service) for denying service to children with primary autism diagnosis, arguing that Camhs’ services are not a good fit for them.
She further pointed out the potentially shorter life expectancy by 16 to 30 years and seven times higher suicide risk for people with autism compared to others. Anne Rabbitte, the Minister of State for Disability, confirmed the early April publication of a new autism strategy, involving the autistic community at every step of its formulation.
The Minister stated that a part of the mainstream service delivery assurance would be established through this strategy.
The assertion was made by her to Members of Parliament, emphasising that while it won’t be a solution to all issues instantly, it will bring about discernible results in the near and intermediate future and lay the foundation for a more accommodating system for people with autism in the long run.
However, the Minister sent out a warning regarding the establishment of a “imagined pecking order of disabilities” when tackling the unique issues and blockades encountered by those with autism. According to her, a majority of the difficulties faced by them are also dealt with by other disabled individuals.
She disclosed there had been 300 reactions to the public consultation and she highlighted an increased budget of approximately £21.7 million annually for respite services, ensuring they are widespread across the nation.
Addressing the hurdles in hiring and keeping staff, she revealed 662 new full-time employees had been hired the past year, a considerable rise from the 231 the year prior. A salary increase of 8 percent was also granted to Section 39 employees. There were 250 training vacancies for assistant therapist positions established by the Education and Training Board, doubling the number from the previous year for speech and language.
Micheál Carrigy, a Fine Gael MP and Chairman of the committee, commended the efforts so far in enhancing services. Still, he reported that the committee had received accounts from multiple witnesses alluding that issues impacting supports and service for those in the autism community “cannot be resolved within the tenure of a single strategy”.
Many question if future governance will maintain Minister Rabbitte’s hard work and the new strategy. He warned that it would be a grave disappointment for the community, their families and loved ones if failure was met in the effort to provide a legal framework to the strategy, ensuring that the rights of people with autism are not pushed aside in the future.
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