Oct 30, 2024, Laois Today: Laois General Election candidate demands action on autism services after emotional meetings
Elaine Mullally, Independent candidate in the General Election for Laois, has completed a series of eight listening meetings across Laois, meeting parents, carers and constituents.
A powerful and emotional pattern emerged during these discussions: children on the autism spectrum are being devastatingly let down by the state. The outcry from parents has been clear—autism services and assessments are in crisis.
“It’s appalling that children in Laois are waiting more than five years just for an initial autism assessment,” Mullally stated.
“Many parents have no choice but to go private, draining their savings just to secure a diagnosis, only to face yet another grueling wait for vital services like speech and language therapy. This isn’t just an oversight—it’s a national disgrace.”
One of the most shocking revelations from the meetings was that post-diagnosis, families are frequently stuck in endless consultations with professionals, but nothing changes for the child.
“There’s meeting after meeting, but no intervention work begins. Parents told me they feel like they’re caught in an endless cycle of bureaucracy, while their children continue to suffer,” Mullally said. . . .
As a mother of two herself, Mullally felt these frustrations deeply, describing the situation as “heartbreaking and infuriating.” She emphasised that these stories represent not just individual cases but a widespread systemic failure in Ireland’s healthcare and education systems.
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