To ask the Minister of Health (i) how autism spectrum disorder service funding levels in each Health and Social Care Trust are calculated; and (ii) how much is spent on autism services in the Limavady area.

The Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) commission services based on need within available resources and allocate these resources to each Health and Social Care Trust (Trust) on a fair and equitable basis in response to local population requirements.

The cost of meeting the needs of each population differs across localities due to factors such as age, rurality and social economic factors which impact on the need for Health and Social Care (HSC) resources. The cost of providing similar services across local areas may differ due to different levels of cost efficiency within Trusts.

Each Trust will then allocate funding appropriately, in addition to the existing resources in a specific area/service and dependent on capacity in each Trust.

Detailed information in relation to how much is spent on autism services in specific areas, including the Limavady area, is unavailable.