Erin McGreehan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The main aim of the committee is to be unapologetic about being proactive and determined to create some equity and equality for people with disabilities. The Minister of State and I spoke on Friday during my Commencement matter. The Minister of State is well aware of the families that are struggling more than ever, and behind closed doors much of the time, with their children with special needs and additional needs. I will not repeat the valid and important points around technology and transport other members have raised. With regard to the 50% capacity of special needs schools, is it possible to get an update on when they will return to 100%? Will it be in line with the mainstream schools?

Will there be a sector-specific educational, social or even medical study done of the impact of school closures and the not-full opening of the special schools and classes looking back on all we have learned? Going back to what Deputy Canney spoke about, how do we catch up? Is there a plan on how we will catch up? How will we assist families whose children have regressed so badly? How do we increase the supports of children with additional needs?

I certainly am always learning in this pandemic. It has highlighted the areas where we all need to learn as a society and how people with disabilities have been affected disproportionately. We have to learn and move on to a rights-based approach to our disability services. That, I suppose, is the aim of this committee. It is to implement the UNCRPD. How does the Department learn from the pandemic? Is it the case that special needs schools and classes need to be reclassified under law as essential services to make sure that they remain open?

Finally, the Department of Education funds the National Parents Council. Is it possible that the Department would fund a dedicated parents council for the parents of children with special needs and additional needs, or has that been thought about? We all are aware that children with additional needs and special needs have specific and different needs from mainstream children. Such an advocacy group for these families would be welcome.