Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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1235. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the timeline for the establishment of a working group to develop an autism innovation strategy; the membership of the working group; the timeline to develop the strategy; if this strategy will consist of clear targets and goals; if it will be given adequate resources to meet its targets and goals; the way in which persons with autism and groups representing persons with autism can feed into and become involved in the creation of this strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19523/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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My colleague, Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Anne Rabbitte T.D., recently announced her intention to establish a Working Group to develop an Autism Innovation Strategy.

The focus of the strategy in the short term will be to deliver real and tangible solutions to the challenges, needs and experiences of people with autism.

The Autism Innovation Strategy will be cross departmental in nature as autism innovation is not solely an issue to be addressed with health supports but one which requires a more holistic approach to be taken.

Minister Rabbitte intends to set up an Autism Innovation Strategy Working Group, which will seek to develop this Strategy and will chair this Working Group once established. The formation of the Working Group is at early stages and I can advise the Deputy when the details have been confirmed. It is certainly the intention that, in line with UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, there will be consultation and participation of people with disabilities.