Debate contribution: Autism (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022

Debate contribution by Mr Robin Swann on 30 April 2024.

MLA

Mr Robin Swann

Party at the time

Ulster Unionist Party

Date

30 April 2024

Type

Debate contribution (made as a minister)

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Autism (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4487699

Read the official Assembly record

Text

Thank you, Mr Deputy Speaker. I thank the Members for bringing forward this important motion. My officials and I are fully committed to full implementation of the Autism (Amendment) Act 2022. Many of the issues that have been raised today are already of high priority for my Department. I take this opportunity to assure Members that work is ongoing to try to address the challenges, despite the difficult financial position that Health and Social Care finds itself in. I cannot emphasise enough how important it is that all Departments work together to address the issues faced by people with autism. As has been said here today and was said during the debates on the Bill that became the Act, autism is not an illness that can be treated; it is a lifelong condition, and better education of and understanding from all of us can help people to live fuller and healthier lives, in which they enjoy the same benefits and freedoms that we all do. Mr McGrath referenced the fact that, while autism is not a mental health issue, it is important that we are aware that it is common for autistic people to experience mental health issues such as anxiety. We must be cognisant of the fact that three in 10 people with learning difficulties have a co-occurring diagnosis of autism, which can mean that they present with an exceptional level of health and social care need. For many years, many people have been allowed to go undiagnosed. That is simply not good enough. Diagnosis is not the solution to all the problems that are faced, nor is it necessary in order to open every door, but it is the start of a journey for each person who is diagnosed. Work is under way to produce a regionally standardised pathway for assessment that will allow for better management and reduction of waiting lists. It is unfortunate that autistic people in our society continue to face stigma and misconceptions about their skills and abilities. Mr McHugh raised that issue in relation to employment challenges. In response, and aligned with its legislative responsibility, my Department has taken a leading role to prepare a cross-departmental strategy to address long-standing inequalities across our public services. Members will be aware that, despite the significant challenges presented by the pandemic, my Department published an interim autism strategy in 2021. That was to maintain the momentum of the successes up to that date and to provide space to develop a longer-term strategy in 2023. Despite what, as has been referenced, was a very challenging financial and political context, my Department continued with the development of a new cross-departmental autism strategy, which, as Members have noted, was published in late 2023 and is aligned to the legislative requirements of the Autism Act 2022. That strategy recognises that the issues faced by children and adults with autism are cross-cutting and that they, therefore, require collaboration across government and sectors and with autistic people. The strategy is supported through increased collaborative working across the sector, and the two-year delivery plan outlines a range of actions to be taken across the Department of Health, the Department of Education, the Department for Communities and the Department for the Economy, as well as across a range of statutory and independent sector bodies. The strategy sets out, clearly, the outcomes that we seek to achieve and the time frame for their delivery.

Yes.

The Member is aware that the motion calls for an update to be provided within six weeks, and I commit to the House to provide that update. As she said, the strategy also sets out the outcomes that we seek to achieve and the time frame for their delivery. It is important to note, however, that the absence of a Programme for Government has impacted on the process to identify and map outcomes and some of the measurable targets. The strategy underpins the delivery plan. It is informed not only through extensive consultation and engagement but through evidence and best practice conveyed through international, national and local research and policy. It was subject to full public consultation, and my officials used a range of methods to engage those with lived experience and stakeholders who advocate on their behalf. That was not a one-off engagement; my officials continue to engage with autistic people and the sector via the Department's autism forum, which was established in 2021. As Members know, that is co-chaired by autistic advocates in order to consider issues and challenges on a thematic basis. The next meeting of that group will be in June this year. As many Members will be aware, the strategy was developed and is being taken forward during a period of exceptionally constrained financial circumstances for all Departments, public bodies and health and social care services. Whilst there is a continued commitment to the implementation of actions, that has necessitated a creative and innovative approach. A consistent message from the people whom we support and their families is that they want actions, not words. That common theme was highlighted during the Department's consultation that led to the publication of the 2023-28 strategy. Today, I will report on several strategy actions that have been progressed. Guidance has been developed for employers to increase the understanding of and support for autistic people in employment. That was done in collaboration with the Equality Commission. Autistic capacity-building sessions for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive have been delivered. That has led to the training of approximately 400 staff. My Department has funded the development of GP training videos across all trusts to increase understanding of the challenges that autistic people experience and how reasonable adjustments can support autistic people when they attend medical appointments. A review is under way to better understand the needs of people with learning disabilities and a coexisting diagnosis of autism. That work aims to ensure that health and social care services are sufficiently adjusted and enhanced to support people with autism. Our Health and Social Care Leadership Centre has been commissioned to take forward work to provide proposals for the development of a regional autism information service, which will provide signposting to services and support. That has involved extensive stakeholder engagement across Northern Ireland, and proposals are due with my Department in the coming weeks. A cross-departmental monitoring template has also been developed to assess progress against the first year of the delivery plan. That has been issued to all relevant Departments for completion, and responses are due back with my Department within the next three weeks. I am happy to publish those and share them with Members to update you all on the responses that we receive. It is especially relevant to note the asks from Mr Baker about education and from Mr McHugh about the Department for the Economy and employment. The outputs of that exercise will be used to produce a cross-departmental monitoring and funding report that will set out the progress made, the outcomes that have been achieved and how they have been measured. The report will also capture the funding, where possible, that has been allocated to support and deliver the strategy's commitments. Again, that is aligned with the requirements of the 2022 Act and will be put before the Assembly. I am fully aware of the responsibility that numerous Members have mentioned to appoint an independent autism reviewer for Northern Ireland. I acknowledge the significant role that that post will play for autistic people and their families. In my previous term, I wrote to Executive colleagues to seek agreement for that post and asked for it to be co-funded, which would have recognised that we all have a role in the delivery of the strategy. Despite the clear cross-departmental scrutiny role that the reviewer will have, no funding commitments were forthcoming from Executive colleagues at the time, unlike for the mental health champion, which has cross-departmental funding. Getting that commitment from my Executive colleagues would be a clear demonstration of all the parties and Departments' commitment to the role. Notwithstanding the lack of financial commitment, the competition to appoint an autism reviewer was progressed by my departmental officials during the period when the Assembly was not fully functioning. However, given the significant pressures faced by the Department, my permanent secretary decided to pause the appointment process, and I support the decision taken under the powers conferred to the senior officials in the absence of this place. Following my return to office, my officials have provided me with advice on the reviewer, and I remain fully supportive of the appointment. However, the Budget set last week will result in serious potential damage to health and social care. As has been said, I voted against the Budget on that basis and now must consider cuts to our front-line services. Therefore, I must defer a decision on the reviewer until I consider health funding pressures in the round.

I will give way to the Member.

I agree with the Member's suggestion, and I will take that forward. I said that I had deferred the decision not that I had refused to make the decision. It is important to recognise that the current funding gap for Health will inevitably lead to a failure to meet other legislative responsibilities across a range of areas, and that includes the delivery of services. My Department is working towards the publication of an equality impact assessment (EQIA) on the Budget allocation. Whilst it will be necessary to make some decisions on allocations prior to the conclusion of that consultation, responses will be taken into account when prioritising the allocation of any additional funding received this year. In conclusion, I recognise the importance of ensuring that all people with autism or those waiting on an assessment for autism, their families and their carers can receive the right access to services and support at the right time and in the right place. I assure all Members that my Department will continue to work in partnership across Departments, the health and social care sector, public bodies and the community and voluntary sector to make that happen. It is my view that the current strategy and work in my Department is largely compliant with the legislation. Given the amount of very positive work in regards to the current financial context and the current two-year delivery plan, I have no plans to review the strategy and its workings at this stage, but I concede that the appointment of the reviewer is necessary to be fully compliant with the legislation, and it is my intention to bring an update on the appointment within the six weeks that was mentioned in the debate.

1,779 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not qualifying

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 10:03 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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