To ask the Minister of Health, pursuant to AQW 25847/17-22, (i) to detail the steps he is taking to reduce waiting times for a child to receive and autism assessment and diagnosis; and (ii) for his assessment of the impact of these waiting times on children diagnosed with autism.

Autism assessment is an operational matter for individual Trusts. In their role as Commissioning Leads, the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) have been meeting with Trusts who have lengthy waiting lists to determine the underlying causes and plans to address this. This will be part of ongoing engagement to keep waiting lists under review.

Alongside this, the HSCB have appointed a Regional Emotional Health and Wellbeing Co-ordinator, whose role will include autism, and as part of this will be working with all five Trusts to develop regional consistency in access to support and services across Northern Ireland.

I have publicly stated my concern in relation to waiting lists for autism assessment on many occasions and am conscious of the increasing challenges that growing waiting times for assessments and support are placing on individuals and their families. However, through the implementation of my current interim Autism Strategy, and the development of a longer term strategy, I am committed to enabling individuals and families to access supports and services which can assist them and to improving and streamlining pathways of care across the region.