A rally was held in Clonmel on Saturday seeking improved services for families with children with Autism. A number of election candidates and public representatives attended and spoke at the rally including Dean McGrath, Seamus Healy, Mattie McGrath TD, Martin Browne TD, Cllr Richie Molloy and Tom Hennessy.
Natasha Dingivan, Cllr Siobhan Ambrose and Cllr Michael Murphy also attended the well supported rally.
Independent candidate Tom Hennessy described the lack of services as disgraceful and appealed to the government to take the plight of children with autism seriously. Mr Hennessy says once diagnosed with a disability the children are transferred to the Community Disability Network Team(CDNT) which lacks sufficient therapists and there are also similar delays at primary care level. Data released to Mattie McGrath last month reveals the extent of children on wait lists in Primary Care alone in South Tipperary with the following totals valid as of April 18th – Ophthalmology 1,491, Psychology 313, Speech and Language 289, Dietician 274, Physiotherapy 99 and Audiology 119.
The rally was organised by two parents – Stephanie McAndrew and Sabrina Kelly who are frustrated with the delays and lack of services. Children have experienced delays in being assessed and further delays in accessing therapies.
