Statement on Prime Time Investigates Programme

A Statement from Shine Ireland on the RTE Investigates Report 25^th March 2021:

Following numerous contacts from our past and present service users, Shine Ireland is deeply concerned about the issues raised in the Prime Time Investigates report that aired on RTE 1 on the 25^th March 2021. The programme highlighted the methods and processes used by the Department of Health to gather information on autistic children and their families who were engaged in legal actions against them.

The parents of autistic children already face a myriad of challenges and these revelations have only served to add yet more stress and anxiety to their lives and will undermine the confidence that these parents have in the state services and agencies that are mandated to help and support them. Shine Ireland fully supports the call for a full and thorough independent investigation into the matters raised in the Prime Time Investigates programme. This investigative process should begin as soon as possible and directly address the issues raised in the programme to rebuild confidence in the Government Departments and state agencies that work with the autistic community.

We also want to take this opportunity to reassure our client families that their data and information is securely stored in compliance with GDPR regulations and is not shared with others without their express consent.

For and on behalf of the Board of Directors,