Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)

I strongly support this amendment which concerns the assessment of children with disabilities. Amendment No. 76 would allow for more than one teacher to be involved in the process. We must look at the reality. Priority should always be given to the parents' views but, when it comes to education issues and decisions on services, parents and teachers should work together. If a class teacher, a resource teacher and a home-school liaison teacher are all involved, there should be a team effort to ensure the child receives quality service and maximum consultation with the parents takes place. We must take a broader view of assessment. Children with disabilities meet many teachers during their school day.

This also fits in with the discussion we had yesterday about providing services for the children and the idea of partnership. The key way to deal with the services is to have partnership between the professionals and the parents. I would promote the agenda of the parents because, as someone who has been involved in parents' groups for 11 years, I feel strongly that their views must be heard. The emphasis must be on the child, but there must also be close co-operation between the parents and the professionals because the end result will be that the child receives the best possible service. That is what the debate is about — providing services for children in this State.

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