Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)

We certainly hear loud and clear the fear and anxiety among the Down's syndrome community and their families. They are really concerned about this and we must ensure they are part of the conversation, front and centre. I give a commitment this will be done.

On the transparency side of it, in the past 12 months and in the previous budget of 2024, there was a huge amount of money given to the NCSE for further recruitment of SENOs and liaisons. That system has been in operation for a full 12 months but it is bedding down now. Having extra SENOs in the field - the staff complement has gone from 265 to 426 in total this year - is hugely welcome. Many of them have been working very hard in the past 12 months to try to get a better system but we also need to ensure SENOs are working with families. The NCSE, which is a statutory body, has the SENOs on the ground and they should be the first point of call for families. They should be fully resourced and up to speed on the challenges but, in addition, they are the eyes and ears of the NCSE and the Department in allowing them to understand what is the need out there for families. We need to build a better relationship between the SENOs and the families.

I met some of the SENOs at a function in Mary Immaculate College in Limerick and they said they need to be able to sit at the kitchen table with families. Trust must be built between the SENOs, the NCSE and all of us in order for families to understand and be able to relate or reach out. The Deputy is dead right; there are an awful lot of families who do not have the wherewithal to reach out to public representatives or advocacy groups or whoever. Having children with additional needs is all-encompassing and takes up all their time. They are reluctant to reach out or, for 101 different reasons, they are unable to do so. The State, the NCSE and the SENOs must embrace that role in a major way so that we are in touch with parents, families and communities to give the best possible advice.

The Deputy referred to applying for school places. A commitment has been given to centralise school places, which would make it easier, but the big ingredient here is the way the NCSE and SENOs will work with families. Much of the work has been achieved in the past 12 months but we need to build on that into the future to build confidence and a sense for families and children that their best interests are being served.