Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the opportunity to speak on this Private Members’ motion on special needs pupils and the urgent need for proper services and resource hours for our children. I speak as both a legislator and a parent of a daughter with an intellectual disability. I spent over 20 years fighting for the rights and resources of all of our children, in particular those with intellectual disabilities. I welcome the change of heart by the Minister for Education and Skills and commend the parents and friends of all children with special needs for their efforts and campaigning over the past few days which led to the change of heart over the resource hours issue.

Several months ago I, along with my Independent colleagues, brought forward a motion on this matter which highlighted the need for careful planning of services. Our children are citizens of this State. If we were a real republic, we would not have to fight regular battles to get decent services. It is a civil rights, civil liberties and equality issue. It is also about inclusion and respect for all our citizens. Either one believes in equality and respect or one does not. There is no halfway house. I am calling on the Minister to ensure students with special educational needs get fair treatment by increasing the number of resource teachers and special needs assistants, SNAs. Will he also lift the cap on teaching resources to ensure that every child eligible for resource-teaching hours receives at a minimum the same allocation of hours they got this year?

This motion is relevant. Today, we met parents of many young adults with an intellectual disability who are lacking other services. We need to keep this issue on the agenda but, above all, we need proper plans for services for all people with disabilities to be implemented and funded every year.

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