Children with autism deserve better - Tully

A Sinn Féin TD is highlighting long waiting lists for children with autism to be assessed.

Deputy Pauline Tully claims she has been contacted by a family waiting a year for their child just to be assessed.“They have been told they will have to wait a further six to eight months,” she said, adding that another family has been told they will be waiting five years for services for their son (6).

“Families cannot afford to pay for these services privately and they should not have to,” said the Kilnaleck based TD.

She welcomed a commitment from Junior Minister, Anne Rabbitte, that no child will have to wait longer than six months for an assessment.

Deputy Tully also claimed that a scheme allowing access to private assessment is proving ineffective because the money must be spent by year end. “It is not possible to access private assessments as they are all booked up,” she said.

“Moreover, assessments need to be followed up by immediate access to whatever therapies are required.”