Written question asked by Lady Hermon (Ulster Unionist Party) on Tuesday, 24 October 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 26 October 2006. It was answered by Paul Goggins (Labour) on Thursday, 2 November 2006 on behalf of the Northern Ireland Office.

Autistic Children

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much funding central Government are providing towards the provision of services for autistic children in Northern Ireland in 2006-07.

Answer: The proportion of the overall block grant which is allocated by the Education and Library Boards and the proportion of the overall baseline which is allocated by the Health and Social Services Boards for the provision of services for children with autism is not separately identified.In addition to this mainstream funding however, the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety allocated an additional £0.5 million recurrent funding in 2004-05 to improve the life outcome for 200 children and young people with Autism. In September 2006, a further £0.5 million recurrent funding was made available to provide early intervention services for 300 children with Autistic Spectrum Disorders.In 2006-07 the Department of Education also allocated additional earmarked and block grant funding of just over £1.5 million to the Education and Library Boards specifically to support provision for children with Autism.An element of the funding which is provided within HPSS baselines for Adolescent Psychiatry (£2.4 million in 2004-05) is also spent on services to support children with Autism. The multi-disciplinary support teams established through the Children and Young People’s Funding Package, March 2006, will also work alongside existing services in schools helping to provide diagnosis and interventions for children with Autism.

Secondary information