Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

In the foyer of these Houses we proudly display the 1916 Proclamation. The Tánaiste will know well one of the main lines in that Proclamation, namely, cherishing all of the children of the nation equally. The decision yesterday announced by the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, and the Minister, Deputy Quinn - he was nowhere to be seen yesterday; it is welcome that he is here today - flies in the face of that pledge. The latest cuts of 25% in real terms since 2011 are shameful. I cannot understand that because every parliamentarian in these Houses has interacted with parents, families and carers of people with disabilities. How can we continue to stand over cuts such as these? These are cuts to children with autism, speech and language difficulties, multiple disabilities, severe emotional disturbance and visual or hearing impairments. Why are children such as these and vulnerable people paying the price of austerity? People watching these debates know that the very wealthy got bailed out, and they take the hit. How can the Tánaiste possibly stand over this type of decision? Members of this House come from different political backgrounds but, fundamentally, we are decent people. We listen to people who are carers and those who are struggling. I appeal to the Minster to reverse this decision. He should not present it in some Orwellian fashion that the budget is the same as it was last year. He knows that the number of students has increased. More money needs to be allocated to this area. I appeal to the Tánaiste to do the right thing and have this decision reversed.

See this speech in context