Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)

Going to school is an imperative. A report on the literacy difficulties of young offenders, published by Dr. Mark Morgan and Ms Mary Kett in 2003, found that literacy is central to participation in society and avoidance of social exclusion. When I was visiting the Rossport five in prison last summer, I was impressed by Mr. Micheál Ó Seighin, who told me that many young offenders came to him because they wanted to learn how to read and write. There are strong indications that approximately 10% of pupils leave primary school without the basic skills they need to cope with the everyday demands of reading and the normal demands of secondary school. According to the action plan of the National Forum on Primary Education: Ending Disadvantage, intervention at an early stage needs to be a priority of the State in this regard. It is not acceptable that just €200,000 was allocated for reading discovery in 2003.

It is considered essential to retain professionals, especially teachers, in areas of disadvantage. It has been argued that if the educational welfare service is to work adequately, a further 95 educational welfare officers are needed to complement the 84 officers who are currently in place. I was horrified to discover the a child in County Mayo can be absent from school for at least 60 days before action is taken. That is clearly not acceptable. As no educational welfare officer is available in the county, reports of absenteeism will not receive a response for 60 days. The educational welfare system was established to identify the reasons for absenteeism. Many family and social problems can be identified on foot of regular absences from school. The children of County Mayo should be given the same opportunities as the children of every other county because all children are equal under the Constitution.

There is just one consultant child psychiatrist to cover all of County Mayo. It is clear, based on the population of the county, that there is an immediate need for at least one more child psychiatrist. That mentally troubled children have to wait more than two years to be assessed by a child psychiatrist tells the full tragic tale of neglect. It is no wonder there is indiscipline in our schools. It is a disgrace that vulnerable children are waiting for so long without being seen, especially as we are all aware of the implications of such a delay. Children who need psychiatric services should receive them immediately, rather than having to wait for two years, by which time it may be too late if they have grown up with their problems.

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