Shortcomings in services for people with autism laid bare before Oireachtas committee 

Adam Harris, founder and chief executive of AsIAm, Ireland’s national autism charity, said barriers to people with autism and their families 'means families losing the opportunity to participate fully in the community and it also often leads to poverty and to social exclusion'. Picture: Denis Minihane

People with autism can fall between various stools when it comes to the services they need, with different Government departments and State bodies sometimes failing to take responsibility, an Oireachtas committee has heard.

The joint committee on disability matters was discussing aligning disability services with the UNCRPD (The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities), which aims to ensure people with disabilities enjoy the same human rights as everyone else.