Labour Councillor Emma Cutlip has said the publication yesterday of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Autism’s report must spur Government into action for autistic people in Drogheda. She says that the uncertainty and lack of support for families is nothing short of a national disgrace.
“The publication of the Committee’s report is to be welcomed but it cannot just gather dust on the Ministers’ shelves. Families in Drogheda and across Louth are sick of being in constant battle with the State” Cllr Cutlip said.
“We need to see implementation across the range of actions including financial supports, inclusion and consultation when designing services which affect autistic people and people with disabilities, as well as the enactment of an Autism Strategy to be revised every three years.
“Thus far, we have seen a lack of joined up thinking when it comes to providing services in Drogheda. Government must commit to a cross Department approach when designing and implementing services and legislation that affect autistic people.
“Last month, we received a breakthrough for people awaiting assessment of needs for autism and disabilities when Minister Anne Rabbittee committed in response to a Labour motion that if the six planned regional assessment teams are not set up by 1st August to tackle the enormous assessment of needs waiting lists, she will bring Labour’s proposals for covering costs to the Budget.
“This would make a huge difference for families in Drogheda who are thoroughly exhausted trying to access assessment, therapies and educational supports. Enacting this report is the right course of action to take to speed up access to services.
“There are no shortage of solutions but what is lacking is political focus and will to secure the financial supports required to create an Ireland that works for young autistic people. Working with my Labour colleagues, I will work to ensure that government act on this report and bring meaningful change for Drogheda people.
“As of March 2023, 10,696 children have been waiting for over 12 months for initial contact with a Children’s Disability Network Team (CDNT), an increase of 836 since December, and 17,157 were waiting in total. This number fails to account for the Drogheda figures as the HSE has been unable to provide any current figures for our CDNT. The uncertainty and lack of support for families is nothing short of a national disgrace.
“From my own interactions with the CDNT for Drogheda (South Louth CDNT) there is over one year wait list for Speech and Language therapy and even longer for Occupational Therapy as there is only half of one whole time equivalent therapist employed by the HSE for the CDNT team in Drogheda.
“As it stands, Ireland has no coherent framework to address the unmet needs of autistic people in our communities like Drogheda. Labour has called for a National Autism Empowerment Strategy to be embedded in legislation to bring about positive change. Autistic children and adults need the law on their side to make meaningful change.
“The harsh reality young autistic people and their parents face is one of relentless pressure. I face the constant struggle every day advocating for my own children and for those who have contacted me for help. I’m aware of many children in our town who are still without an appropriate school or ECCE place for September. While Drogheda and surrounding areas have amazing schools such as Abacas, St Marys, St. Ita’s special schools and also early intervention in Tullydonnell. Families travel to Drogheda for schools and often move to the area to access education only to be left with some of the worst CDNT waitlists in the country.
“Many, many more are waiting for assessments and basic interventions, which we know are key to giving autistic children a fair start.
“The report must push Government into action. We know that other countries, like Malta, do so much better than us. They have proper workforce planning in place, they know the numbers of places required and they make it happen come what may. The reality is that we, as a State, are letting so many of our most vulnerable children down and we need to face up and get to grips with that.”
