Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Health, Billy Kelleher TD, has again called on the Minister for Health to allocate the full €3 million available in his department for autism services throughout the state.
Yesterday in the Dáil, Deputy Kelleher raised this issue with the Minister and questioned why only €300,000 of this allocation has been drawn down, and to facilities in North Dublin.
Deputy Kelleher commented: “I am asking why the remainder of the money was not allocated. It is incomprehensible that even when there is money available there seems to be a determined effort not to spend it on services for people with autism.”
Deputy Kelleher added: “The Health Service Executive’s assistant national director for disability services, Dr Kate Hartigan, has described it as regrettable that the available funding could not be used to promote equity and consistency across the country by improving access to services for all children with autism.
“The €3 million that was committed for services for children with autism must be spent in the next three years for the benefit of the entire country. Instead of hiding behind reviews and stalling the process, the Minister should allocate the funds. This now needs to happen as a matter of urgency.”
