Establish targeted mental health supports for autistic children

What this means

• This is a government commitment to set up targeted mental health supports specifically for autistic children who are facing mental health challenges.[source]
• The commitment was made on 23 January 2025 as part of the Programme for Government and falls under the mental health policy area.[source]
• The Department of Health, led by Minister Mary Butler, is responsible for delivering on this promise.[source]
• The commitment is currently at the promised stage only, with no confirmed delivery date set, meaning progress can and should be tracked over time.[source]
• This matters for accountability because autistic children with mental health needs are a vulnerable group, and the public can hold the Department of Health to this stated promise.[source]

Direct impact (2)

• delivery owned by body
  Department of HealthBody
• delivery owned by officeholder
  Mary ButlerOfficeholder

Indirect impact (10)

Two-hop relationships traced through the entity above. Useful for spotting downstream knock-on effects.

• delivery owned by body → sets rule for2-hop via dept-health
  Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and ReformBody
• delivery owned by officeholder → holds role: Teachta Dála2-hop via mary-butler
  Dáil ÉireannBody
• delivery owned by officeholder → holds role: Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach with special responsibility as Government Chief Whip; and the Department of Health with responsibility for Mental Health2-hop via mary-butler
  Department of the TaoiseachBody
• delivery owned by body → owns statutory mandate2-hop via dept-health
  Formulation and oversight of health policyMandate
• delivery owned by body → holds role: Minister for Health2-hop via dept-health
  Jennifer Carroll MacNeillOfficeholder
• delivery owned by body → holds role: Minister of State at the Department of Health2-hop via dept-health
  Jennifer Murnane O'ConnorOfficeholder
• delivery owned by body → responsible for commitment2-hop via dept-health
  Open the new National Children's HospitalCommitment
• delivery owned by body → responsible for commitment2-hop via dept-health
  Add 4,000-4,500 inpatient hospital bedsCommitment
• delivery owned by body → responsible for commitment2-hop via dept-health
  Open at least 100 additional ICU bedsCommitment
• delivery owned by body → responsible for commitment2-hop via dept-health
  Deliver four new elective hospitalsCommitment