Ivana Bacik (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, to the House and congratulate her on her appointment. I wish her the very best in this important post. I am glad to be speaking in my capacity as Labour Party spokesperson on children, disability, equality and integration and, in that regard, to ask the Minister for Health or the Minister of State to make a statement to the House on the provision of nursing care plans for children with complex needs to enable them to participate in education and to commit to the provision of nursing care for a child whose plan has already been prepared and who is due to attend a particular primary school in Dublin in the coming weeks.

My starting premise, which I know is also that of the Minister of State and her Department, is that children have a right to education. This is one of the most important rights children have as bearers of rights. Whatever the needs of a child, we must always strive to ensure he or she can exercise that right to an education. I am, of course, conscious that children who have complex needs need particular care. I have just come from a briefing with Inclusion Ireland on the needs of children and adults with intellectual disabilities, but my question relates to children with complex physical needs. These children have a right to an education in mainstream schools and require care packages to enable them to participate.

We all acknowledge that this issue cuts across the roles and responsibilities of both the Department of Health and the Department of Education and Skills. I also acknowledge the immense work of the HSE and the HSE co-ordinator for children with complex needs, who has a very important role. I also acknowledge the role played by special needs assistant, SNA, provision through the Department of Education and Skills and nursing care provision through the Department of Health. Enable Ireland has been working very hard on this issue and has run a pilot access and inclusion programme which aims to steer a path and navigate between health and education.

The particular case which has been brought to my attention by a parent and a school principal, and which I have also brought to the attention of the Minister of State's office, illustrates the difficulties experienced when children with complex needs seek to exercise their right to participate in education. When I was contacted by the parent and principal in respect of this particular pupil, about whom the Minister of State has details and of whose case she is very well aware, I was told that the child had a very particular physical condition which required a care package. The child is due to start fifth class in October. The family and school have been through the process of obtaining an SNA and nursing support. This process was at a very advanced stage. The HSE co-ordinator had been working with the family, and I understand the package of supports was in place and lined up. At the very last minute, just weeks ago, the child's family and school were informed that funding was not available for the nursing package. I understand that is what happened.

Since then, the family and the school have been in contact with different officials. The child has written a letter to the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, whom I have also contacted. Her office told me that it was a matter for the Department of Health. I contacted the Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, but have not yet received a response. I thank the Minister of State very much for the response I received directly from her, in which she said that she is looking into the issue. I really do thank her for that response, which I acknowledge. This matter clearly has a wider impact for children beyond this particular case. While I am today asking for the Minister of State to commit to provision for this particular child, I want to raise this matter as a broader issue for children more generally.