To ask the Minister of Health to outline how he plans to address the waiting list for children’s autism services.

There has been a significant increase in the number of children being referred for an autism assessment and regrettably Autism Services do not currently have the capacity to meet this growing area of need.

This situation has arisen due to several factors, including funding that falls short of objectively assessed need and previous missed opportunities to reform health and social care delivery. It is clear that additional investment in autism services is required if we are to reduce waiting lists and I am committed to addressing this, subject to available funding.

In May 2025, My Department published the Children and Young People’s Emotional Health and Wellbeing Framework. The Framework was issued for public consultation and this exercise concluded on 26th September 2025.

This Framework proposes an approach to neurodiversity which is inclusive and aligned to the needs of children and their families. The importance of diagnostic processes should not be underestimated, however the requirement to obtain a formal diagnosis as a pre-cursor to the offer of support and assistance consigns many children to lengthy periods of time spent in anticipation of support and intervention which would have been more appropriately offered at an earlier stage.

The approach proposed will place more emphasis upon earlier intervention irrespective of the outcome of the formal diagnostic process.

The Department is currently developing a regionally consistent neurodevelopmental pathway. This work will also assist in evaluating service capacity, scoping out workforce requirements and clarify areas for transformational investment.

It is clearly necessary to extend the parameters of this work beyond the confines of the Department of Health and into the Education domain.