Louth TD questions impact of new autism assessment service
The Dundalk TD said there were over 20,000 children waiting for an Assessment of Needs
In response to the government’s announcement of the new autism assessment service, Sinn Féin spokesperson on disability, Louth TD Ruairí Ó Murchú, said he was “sceptical” about what it would mean for those who are ‘languishing’ on waiting lists.
The Dundalk deputy said: “The main issue in autism assessment is the fact there are now over 20,000 children waiting for an Assessment of Needs (AON). Most of them have been waiting for well over the statutory timeframe of six months and many are waiting for years.
“The government continues to break the law, the Disability Act of 2005.
“With the announcement of the new autism assessment, there are concerns about the assessment officers’ clinical background and how the decisions will be made on offering this alternative pathway.
“And not only are the children languishing on waiting lists for AONs, even when the AON is carried out, there are huge and lengthy waiting lists on Children’s Disability Network Teams (CDNTs), primary care and for those seeking necessary therapies.
“I am sceptical about whether the announcement of this new autism assessment service will make a material difference to those who are waiting and those who have yet to be referred”.
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Children and Youth, Claire Kerrane, said: “What children need is a system that ensures they can access the supports that they need when they need them. That’s it.”
Deputy Ó Murchú said the government has also yet to provide schools with proper guidelines about how assessments will be carried out to ensure that children applying will get an appropriate school place.