Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

That is fine. With regard to how they are allocated, I know there are always debates about this issue and the inspector over that section, Mr. Hislop, outlined the criteria and how the assessment is done. I want to highlight with regard to the allocation of funding for such schools that, as I see it, there are different levels of need and there are situations where children's level of psychological or physical disability would not be very intense. However, the Kolbe school has been told it is overstaffed. I visited the school a number of times and I know the students have very intense needs, both psychological and physical. The first time I was there, I came away and wondered to myself how anyone would get through a day, given the level of need the children have is so intense. However, the school has been told it is overstaffed. Children stay there until they are 18 years of age and there are teenagers there who are a lot bigger than me, which presents significant challenges. I do not want to go into too much detail but I have witnessed it at first hand. The staff are really challenged and people have been injured, and there are many things I could say about it to the Department privately. We cannot have a situation where the criteria are the same for that school. I appeal to the Department and Mr. Hislop to examine that.

The parents are greatly challenged and the summer period is very difficult for them. When children go to the Kolbe school during the day in the normal school term, it gives parents of bit of breathing space, but the staff take over and it is a very challenging situation for them. Speaking on behalf of the parents and staff, for September the school needs a couple of extra SNAs, given what they are saying to me, and I appeal to the Department to look at that.