Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses and greatly value their contribution to this debate. First, I refer to the survey that Inclusion Ireland conducted between 30 April and 20 May in which 89% of respondents, and these are parents of children with additional needs, said that their children were missing school and a further 78% said that students were not motivated to learn or it was not easy or accessible for students with additional challenges to learn at home. I move from that to the summer scheme, formerly the July provision scheme. With that information one would anticipate that there would be a massive uptake, given the recognition that there is a great need for students to have an educational facility available to them. Last year, as was mentioned previously, 10,000 students participated in the July provision programme. This year there are approximately 14,000 participating with one programme or another, despite the Minister saying that there was capacity for 24,000 or 25,000.

Something has gone greatly wrong. Parents have recognised that there is a major need for students to be integrated once again into some form of education plan or programme, but the uptake is not there. I note the witnesses said in the report that it is poor planning, lack of guidance, school transport and a variety of things. I am interested to know at what point was Inclusion Ireland or parents, and I appreciate Ms Dempsey acknowledging that she is a parent, included in the discussion or negotiations for a programme such as the summer scheme.