I have just come from the launch of the report by the Joint Committee on Autism. It contains 109 recommendations. Some of the issues have already been brought up here. The idea of this report is that we set in train a framework and that we put all the pieces in place with universal design for society and that we offer cradle to grave services for autistic people and their families which unfortunately are not there now.

For assessments and therapies, we do not have the numbers in the children's disability network teams in primary care. We know we need to make sure we do the workforce planning and deal with the work conditions but we must also look at the services we have and how we can provide the best bang for buck. Overall, I would like to think that the recommendations will be considered during the budgetary process because we are absolutely failing our citizens and we really need to set a marker. What is happening is not good enough, so I request that this happens.

I understand the report was published this morning. I have not yet had the opportunity to read it but I thank the members of the committee and, in particular, the chair, Senator Micheál Carrigy, for their work. I also thank the witnesses who gave their time and shared their experiences and expertise in engaging with the committee. I will meet with the committee chair in the next few weeks so he can present the report to me and we can then discuss the recommendations, of which there are more than 100, and see which ones we can progress, particularly in the areas of employment, education and access to services.