David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The NCSE accepts that it was open to challenge. Inclusion Ireland claims it could be in breach of the Equal Status Act. I will go on to quote something else in the Down Syndrome Ireland submission:

There appears to be a complete disconnect between the Minister and officials in his Department, and it is students with Down syndrome who are caught in the middle. It's shocking and deeply distressing for all concerned.

I think Mr. Tattan needs to have a greater appreciation of that distress and the shock that these parents and this organisation are articulating. He said he is meeting its representatives tomorrow, which is good. However, there needs to be a much deeper appreciation from the Department, which I am not hearing from Mr. Tattan and I have not heard from any of the responses today, of the perception of a disconnect, the perception of children being left behind and the perception that this has been deeply distressing for the children involved and for the parents of those families.

An Teachta Funchion put it well earlier. We have heard promises of changes for years. Despite all the rhetoric - we heard more of it today from Mr. Tattan - that we are going to see more changes and that we are moving in the right direction, the organisations that represent these children do not feel that pace is quick enough. Down Syndrome Ireland states it is shocking and deeply distressing for all concerned that there is this perceived disconnect. Does Mr. Tattan agree with it on whether there is a disconnect?