Ms Derval McDonagh:

I wholeheartedly agree. We have major legacy issues with that charitable model and it permeates throughout the education system with the impact that is having on the children right now. We constantly speak to families who have applied to 20 or 30 schools. They actually talk about begging schools to accept their child. They would need their own personal administrator just to manage communicating with 20 or 30 schools. However, the messaging for children and families is that it is a favour and something that families have to beg and fight for. There are major hangovers from that. It is not a right yet, even though it is clearly enshrined in our Constitution.

I agree that there is not a level of understanding of the engagement needed for disabled children and their families. That system needs to be turned on its head a little bit to focus on children and families and the impact that it has on them every day. Inclusion Ireland and the other organisations in the alliance are hearing that while families start off with the same set of hopes, dreams and ambitions for their child, that is battered back over time. I spoke to a mother last week who told me that perhaps her hopes had been too high. That is what happening to people when it is grace and favour, and not rights based. We really need to change that narrative. That needs to start from the top; from the Department of Education. There needs to be an openness to engagement and understanding.

We hear all the time that there is more investment in the system. While we can see that more money is being spent, is it being spent in the right ways? Is it being spent on building more inclusive cultures and communities? Is it being spent on expecting the highest standard of education for disabled children? These are questions that have not been answered yet. We would love to see an evaluation of how the money is being spent and where it needs to be channelled to get the best possible outcomes for children coming out of school. Ms Byrne always said that she should not have to fight for the next step in the journey all the time.