Averil Power (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I echo the comments made by other speakers. This is a particularly informative debate. I am sorry I missed the first two submissions but I will read the transcript. I was delayed at an earlier meeting.

I wish to pick up on two specific issues. Like other members I was intrigued by the points made about children in care. That was probably more of an oversight from the point of view of the Bill, which reflects the general point the witnesses made that other countries have proper guidelines. As this is a much broader issue than admissions, we should have an overall system that looks out for these children from an education and health point of view and ensure there is a proper comprehensive policy. It is a reflection of that lack of priority given to terminal care in general that they were not even thought of when this legislation was being drafted but it is a very important point.

The draft scheme as published would address some of the issues. I was touched by the story Mr. McCabe's daughter told in the two page personal testimony she sent to the committee. She referred to having to travel from her area to a school in another area and finding herself at home on summer evenings and not knowing any of the children she meets in the shop. Part of that problem is to do with waiting lists in that she said she was at the bottom of the waiting list for the most local school because she had sought a place too late. The abolition of waiting lists will address some of that issue but I can still see a problem arising where exceptions are allowed for parents or siblings who attended the school because equally those rules would have put her at a disadvantage. Is Mr. McCabe asking that the committee would suggest that children in care are put at the top of the list as a priority before other criteria in the legislation-----