Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

In a discussion earlier today, we were marked one year since the report from the Joint Committee on Autism. Some of the parents raised how there is no grading and no accountability for what students with autism in special classes or special schools actually learn in school. Therefore, there is a very low level of expectation. We speak here sometimes about how students leave a special school and go straight to a service and they might be in that service for the rest of their lives. Do we need to think of better for young people? Do we need to look at more options for them? They could go straight from a special school where, as I said, there is no test. There is no Drumcondra test. There is nothing to actually say what the students have learned. There are many examples of autistic students who are non-verbal but who are extremely intelligent. The issue is with communication, but an assumption is often made that they are not intelligent.

We need to be able to address that and it will be done through communications and the use of assistive technology or other mechanisms. Does Ms Reynolds believe we need to raise our expectations for young people in special schools and look at other options rather than going straight to a service? I am not condemning services whatsoever and I know the brilliant work they do.