Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank our guests. I have a couple of questions for Councillor Bailey that are also for Councillor Cronnelly, but I will just ask them of Councillor Bailey for now. She spoke of the use of reduced timetables creating a barrier to disabled children's equal participation in and access to education. What policies and oversight does she believe are needed to ensure that reduced timetables and the use of isolation, seclusion and restraint in schools and other settings do not disproportionately impact disabled students and undermine their right to full and safe participation in education and, beyond that, in all aspects of school life? In the context of our discussion of participation in education, I do not know whether Councillor Bailey is aware of the recent decision to treat children with additional needs or disabilities slightly differently with regard to track and tracing, which is another participation problem relating to education. Right now, the Department of Education is saying that children with additional needs will be tracked, traced and sent home if they are a close contact but kids who do not have additional needs can remain in the classroom. That is another participation problem and seems to be quite arbitrary.