To ask the Minister of Education, given the current waiting times for diagnosis, to detail the action she is taking to ensure that children awaiting an autism diagnosis are provided with autism support services by the Education Authority.

Autism is a medical diagnosis and as such the matter of progressing an assessment is for the individual Health Trust.

The Education Authority’s (EA) Autism Advisory and Intervention Service (AAIS) can provide general advice and guidance for children and young people who are awaiting or undergoing an autism assessment, alongside additional resources available to support schools, pupils and parent/carers which can be accessed via the EA website.

Should parent/ carers feel that their child/ young person is still having difficulty accessing learning, despite assistance being provided by the school, or other professionals, they can submit a request for a Statutory Assessment direct to EA via their online request form.