Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

Go raibh míle maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle, as ucht cead a thabhairt dom an cheist thábhachtach seo a ardú. Tá áthas orm go bhfuil an tAire Stáit inár measc, cé gur mhaith liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire Oideachais agus Eolaíochta í fhéin mar gheall ar an cheist thábhachtach seo.

The Minister has clearly stated that every child deserves the opportunity to reach his or her potential. She has stated that her aim is to create the environment in which this can be achieved. This laudable statement contrasts sharply with the tortuous and damaging uncertainty that the Minister and her Department have created for one of my young constituents in Balbriggan. One young constituent, Oisín Melia, who was born on 26 April 2002, made repeated visits with his parents to the Mater Hospital child guidance clinic in Swords and was finally diagnosed with autism in June 2005. Fortunately for Oisín, his parents are well informed and well able to fight his case and the Minister for Education and Science has not heard the last of this matter. This matter needs to be resolved and the Minister needs to learn lessons from the progress, or lack of it, to date.

I am in possession of a report by researchers from California State University, Stanislaus, which was given to me by Oisín's parents. This report indicates that most experts in autism agree that the earlier the intervention is delivered, the better will be the outcomes. The report also questions the suitability of treating children with autism with a variety of intervention methods. Thankfully, Oisín's parents have taken this to heart and sought the constancy and routine which a child like Oisín requires to make progress. Considerable progress has, therefore, been made.

A letter from Nessa and Ciarán Melia stated that the Department of Education and Science sanctioned 20 hours' tuition per week. It then stated that Oisín began taking 25 hours' tuition per week in January 2006, with his parents covering the additional cost. The letter stated that since then, Oisín progressed well and began to communicate verbally in the following two months, albeit in a very basic way. His parents also made some progress in respect of toilet training for him. They argued that this would have been inconceivable prior to him receiving applied behavioural analysis, ABA, intervention and stated categorically that this intervention was reaping rewards for their son and gradually opening up potential for the future. The letter went on to state that while they were encouraged by Oisín's progress, they were extremely concerned about the home tuition system under which he received his funding. According to the Minister, such funding is re-examined every six months and the criteria under which it is awarded are currently and distressingly put in doubt.

I ask the Minister to take on board the plight of this family. Life is difficult enough for it without putting it in a position which creates uncertainty. Not only is the Minister creating uncertainty for this family, there is no list of tutors qualified in ABA tuition in the Department of Education and Science. The parents advertised in a newspaper and, luckily, received an excellent Montessori-trained ABA teacher. However, this teacher is finding her position in doubt because of the Department's position. In sanctioning 20 hours, the Department is effectively saying that the hours are acceptable but that it is not too sure about the tuition and who will administer it. This is unacceptable. I ask the Minister to take on board the real and very good advice I have received, which basically reflects on a letter to a Government colleague where the Minister stated that the home tuition scheme provides funding for parents for education at home and it was extended in recent years to facilitate tuition for children awaiting a suitable educational placement.

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