Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)

I thank the Chair for the opportunity of raising this very important issue relating to St. Michael's pre-school in Ennis. The case of St. Michael's pre-school is one worth examining in its own right. What is happening there should be addressed quickly and efficiently. There is more to this. The situation at St. Michael's offers us the chance to address a much wider issue in education, that of integration of children with special needs and the facilities they require.

Let me first set out the facts. Since September St. Michael's has not received referrals for children under seven years of age with special needs. A new model of care has been introduced whereby children aged up to six years with special needs will now be referred to mainstream pre-schools. My understanding from the Health Service Executive is that this is being done without consultation with parents. This is very serious.

There is no argument regarding the benefits of integrating children with special needs into appropriate mainstream class environments. This issue is being hotly debated in the British media this week. The key word is "appropriate". The mainstream environment into which children with special needs are being integrated must be appropriate. In the case of St. Michael's pre-school in Ennis, it is not obvious that this is the case, notwithstanding the issue of non-consultation.

Any new model of care for children with special needs should ensure that their special needs are being met. Children with developmental problems should not be subjected to lengthy and intense therapy sessions in a crowded and noisy environment. They should have the specialised equipment, the nursing care, facilities, such as sensory rooms, and changing facilities they require. What happens if a child aspirates on food or drinks or has a fit? Who will administer their medication?

I suspect the mainstream privately run pre-schools that it is intended the children with special needs from St. Michael's will attend do not have the required facilities at the moment. Special needs assistants in these schools do an excellent job, but they do not have the training to deal adequately with extreme cases. This is where the new model of care and inappropriate integration breaks down.

There are 11 children at St. Michael's with special needs. The five staff there allow them to live more independent lives. They are taught feeding, language and speech courses. They have specialist equipment, activity and sensory rooms. The Health Service Executive has issued a statement to the effect that international best practice is to integrate children with disability or with special needs into mainstream environments. The benefits of integration in appropriate environments are not challenged.

I am simply asking the Health Service Executive and the Minister to think about whether the children are getting the facilities and the education they require; to think about the children in St. Michael's pre-school and about their parents, who think about their children's future all the time; to think about the independent living skills they are being taught; and to think about whether we are doing the right thing for children with special needs or are merely pursuing integration without looking at the appropriateness of the facilities and the environment.

Those campaigning to keep St. Michael's open deserve credit and support. Their case provides an important lesson for the wider educational system. I ask the Minister to think again about these children and their parents. If we are to integrate children into mainstream schools, the schools should be provided with the special equipment that is needed for these special children who, unfortunately, were born with a disability.

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