To ask the Minister of Health, pursuant to AQW37719/22-27, whether the Emotional Health and Wellbeing framework will address the issue of lack of obligated support, following an autism diagnosis.

Each child diagnosed with autism will have individual needs and will require a person-centred support plan to meet those needs. Health and Social Care Trusts (HSCTs) offer post diagnostic support following an autism assessment. The Autism Act does not define or identify obligated support other than post diagnostic support.

The Emotional Health and Wellbeing Framework has been developed to support fully inclusive needs-based care pathways for children and young people. The Framework aims to identify the roles and responsibilities of everyone who has input to supporting children and young people pre and post assessment and regardless of diagnostic outcome. This will help identify gaps in service and co-produce priority areas for service development and future funding.

Autistic people should have equal access to all HSC services and to support this the Department has recently developed Neuro Diversity Awareness training that is available to all HSC staff. This should help staff to make all healthcare environments more accessible and welcoming for autistic people.

It is recognised that there is a deficit in provision both for assessment and post-diagnostic support and that investment is required across a range of services that would help meet the needs of the population including the autistic population.

The Department is currently operating within a constrained budget and is required to make decisions in relation to the work that can be delivered within current resources. Any decision to commission services in the future will be based on an assessment of the level of demand for services.