Jen Cummins (Dublin South Central, Social Democrats)

I thank the witnesses, especially the parents, for coming in. It is very difficult to come in to a committee. I am very new on this committee as well, so I still find it a little scary coming here. However, I am not talking about my personal experiences, whereas the witnesses are. I commend them on that. It is not right that they have to come in here and fight so hard for their children.

Listening to the contributions, what emerged for me was that this system is broken. That is what I am hearing very loudly from all parties. The word "equity" features in a number of the statements. We talk about equality, but it is actually equity that is really important. The system and things like buildings are inaccessible for many children. That is not how we want the system to be and it is definitely not the way it should be.

I hear that the witnesses are tired. Staff in schools are also exhausted. We need to build a system that is enhancing for families and children. We need to ensure every support is given in schools to children and their families and the people who are giving the support. You cannot support people in a school as a principal, teacher or SNA if you are not supported. If there are not supports in place for those people, the system will crumble.

I am surprised that 8% of the children in question still do not have a school place. The committee has found it very difficult to find out exactly what those numbers are, so I thank the witnesses for telling us what it is. It seems to be a phantom number. We do not know what the actual numbers are. In a proper, functioning system the NCSE would know exactly how many children there are, who and where they are and what they need. In the context of the education system we should be aspiring to, that is not asking for much. We are just asking for the basics, namely, that the relevant bodies know who those children are. As so many people have rightly said about the rights of the child and of people with disabilities, this has to be child-centred. One child had 60 refusals. Parents have enough to do as it is without having to do that amount of administration.

If we had everything, what would be the blue-sky version and what would make things easier for the witnesses? What one thing would the parents fix in schools if they had a magic wand? We need to aspire to doing that.