‘State has failed to keep pledge on autism’

IRISH Autism Action (IAA) will spend €450,000 and screen 300 children this year because it says the Government has failed in its promise to give every autistic child the best shot at education.

The 2001 Task Force on Autism recommended an assessment programme be set up that would diagnose and suggest therapy at the earliest opportunity.

Five years on, the charity sanctioned the funds from its Round Ireland Cycle to try and make inroads on a 1,500 child waiting list for psychological, occupational therapy and speech therapy assessments.