Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)

I wish to focus on the situation of children with Down's syndrome in the education system in Ireland. The debate on special education puts a lot of attention on ASD, which is great, but what I hear from families and advocacy organisations is that they feel ignored in this conversation. They feel that their needs, which are just as important and urgent, are not being taken into consideration at all and this creates a two-tier system.

Down Syndrome Ireland is doing great work to highlight some of these disparities. A recent analysis shows 96% of special classes do not cater to children with Down's syndrome, while 4% are suitable at primary and 7% are suitable at post primary.

In Kildare, there is only one mild special class at primary level and none at post-primary, four moderate and two severe profound special classes, and 139 ASD classes across primary and post-primary. There is a problem here with the registration of demand. Children with Down's syndrome are not routinely recommended for assessment by the CDNT. They cannot register demand for a special class with the NCSE. In turn, the NCSE says there is no demand for mild, moderate and severe special classes, hence the lack of provision. However, we know there is a demand because wherever there is a special class, it is oversubscribed. This means that children with Down's syndrome are systematically made invisible.

When parents fight for an assessment for their child, they are recommended to postpone the educational assessment until the child is five years of age due to cognitive delay. That creates stress for parents. If they wait until their child is five, that is incompatible with the schools admissions timeline. Where a family decides that a special class is the most appropriate placement and they manage to secure a place in primary school, we know there is lack of continuity in the transition process. Some parents in Kildare have told me that they are moving their children out of primary schools and into special schools at around third class or fourth class to ensure they then have a place at post-primary. It is quite traumatic for these parents then.

There is an abundance of evidence showing the severe limitations of IQ tests, yet this is still how we determine the supports that children receive. I think it is outdated and discriminatory, and needs to be reviewed. IQ tests are not properly responsive to the strengths of children with Down's syndrome and are restrictive in many ways.

We heard first-hand accounts from parents about how the removal of complex needs criteria for the allocation of SETs has negatively affected their children. Essentially, children with complex needs are sharing their precious resource time with all the other children. I know there is a lot there. Does the Minister of State agree that families should have options available in their local area to explore the best models of education for their children? Will budget 2026 reflect this? Will he commit to reviewing the IQ test policy, assessment timelines, SET allocation criteria and collecting data on children with Down's syndrome in our system?