Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have a few comments and questions. A couple of key phrases keep coming up. They are “best practice” and “the model is working”. Looking it at from the outside, we, as a State, are not utilising what is seen not just nationally, but internationally, as good and best practice. That needs to change.

Over a period, 7,000 parents are getting training, yet there are thousands of other parents out there who are not getting the benefit of that training. Something that I have seen, and I am sure it is happening in other CDNTs throughout the country, is the team within the CDNT is giving training to parents, which I do not agree with, to be honest. The reality is when that training is being given, the children are not getting the service from that professional. Yet, we have the centre that is best practice, is giving training to parents and, with perhaps a bit more resources, could expand that across the country and remove that need for our 90-odd CDNTs around the country. I know from speaking to parents who have gone to training sessions from the centre that they found them immensely valuable. When parents hear those words, it is very hard to take and they do not know where to go or what to do, only for many voluntary parents groups around the country that come in and support people. The State is not supporting families when they get initial diagnoses. This role could be expanded throughout the country in the context of giving training to parents.

There is also the issue of teachers. If it is best practice for parents, it is important for the teachers too. There are not modules within our teacher training college to teach particularly in special education. We have teachers going into schools and sometimes they get put looking after the new special class that opened without actually having had any experience. As was said, the centre has the model of best practice and that should be implemented into our teacher training or SNA courses. Often, it is SNAs within the schools who are working with the kids, but they have not received significant training in working with kids, particularly those with autism.

I visited a number of schools in my home area over the Christmas period. I am aware of something that should be looked at. There are hours for SNAs under the Croke Park agreement. A lot of those do not happen. This is an opportunity. If SNAs could do further training through the centre, which is best practice, that could be taken into account in the context of hours relating to the Croke Park agreement. That would remove the need for them to train outside work hours.

Working with a child and transitioning from primary to secondary was mentioned. Earlier, Science Foundation Ireland referred to how technology and creating apps could help with that. The reality is we will not have professionals able to go with every child through it. Perhaps the centre could work with Science Foundation Ireland on helping to develop that so it could be there for every child. It is the responsibility of the Government and the State to make sure that we try to find the correct technology. The centre’s experience would be extremely beneficial to helping, I think it was Trinity College, to create and develop the app.

I refer to the proposed school inclusion model. There was a trial done in community healthcare organisation 7 area, which would be Kildare and north Dublin. The guests are aware of that. What are their views on that compared with the whole school programme, which is their work in Northern Ireland?

In its final report, which is due at the end of March, The committee will be making recommendations to the Government regarding changes. What recommendations do the witnesses feel we should be including in our report that best reflect their experience and the best practice at their centre in order that we can maximise their experience and knowledge to benefit of kids throughout the country?