Carers and autism supports
Emer Higgins marked Carers Week and the autism report, saying families are let down by delays in diagnosis, therapies and carer supports. She asked what the planned therapist pipeline would look like for CDNTs and primary care.
Thank you, Deputy. We are out of time. I will call Deputy Higgins and then we will go to the Taoiseach.
Comment on this
This week is Carers Week. This morning, I attended a coffee morning in Clondalkin hosted by Family Carers Ireland in conjunction with Clondalkin Autism Parent Support Network. Of course, we had the launch of the Joint Committee on Autism report, which, under the leadership of Senator Carrigy, made more than 100 recommendations.
Both of these are reminders and insights into the everyday struggles of families and the incredible work carers do. However, it is also a reminder of how let down people feel, particularly when it comes to diagnosis and access to therapies and support like the carer's allowance, which is means tested. In my own area, community healthcare organisation, CHO, 7, disability waiting lists really are heartbreaking and parents, unfortunately, are broken by the system that should support them.
Comment on this
We know the political will is there and the funding is in place to change this. What does that look like in terms of a pipeline for therapists to get into children's disability network teams and primary care centres?