Ms Gina Grant:

In response to Senator O'Donnell, if children with Down's syndrome were put on a list, we could get better research, but when children enter the mainstream, they go under the heading of mild or moderate disability. Even when children with Down's syndrome are born, they are included in the congenital defect group. They are not classified as children with Down's syndrome; therefore, it is very hard and scattered, which is why we need to recognise them in order that we can start building the research. That is a problem.

That leads me to what I said to the Minister, Deputy Quinn, in regard to a child who is born with a congenital defect. A prediction of needs is drawn up for such a child. We know that he or she will be entering the system in the next five years. The process of education should be started for a child born with a disability or diagnosed with a disability in his or first year so that the assessments can link with the school system. This would allow a child with Down's syndrome to receive full support and his or her development would be pushed from the outset. I asked the Minister to explore this issue because if we are put on the low-incidence list we can build on the research that is vital at this stage.