Ms Colette Cahill:

I would add to that in terms of that transition piece. That is a big focus for us in Crann. Our transition through life stages from toddler to child and our education and career pathways module in our service offering speaks to that and it is an area on which we are putting a lot of emphasis and focus in terms of support. We find in many cases that transitions in school are instrumental in life for any of us, not just for those with a disability. Transitions are huge. Having extra supports feeds into the training of the teachers and SNAs. Teachers work really hard in schools but do not often get released in terms of doing modules and understanding the needs of a child with a disability in the class, because they have so many different disabilities. You are talking about physical disabilities and the needs of a physical disability, and then the learning needs as well. We are addressing some of that through some of the transition pieces within our education piece, but a lot more needs to happen on that nationally as well.

Coming back to the Deputy's question with regard to continence and SNA training, and the teachers and the nursing training, she was right and I agree it is a bit disappointing that it is falling to us in Crann to deliver that. At the same time, we need to be fair and acknowledge that the nursing services and those providing training and supports in terms of continence and so on to families do a fantastic job. I have come from that background, so I know you do your best in that environment but you have big lists and you have a lot to do. The difference with what we are providing is that we are able to tailor it. We understand the families we work with, so we are able to deliver that training. For the SNAs and teachers, that training is really specified. They get the extra layer of support that maybe in a hospital setting you might not be able to give because there is such demand on the services across many different areas. All support to roll it out nationally would be greatly appreciated by Crann. We would love that.