Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I am glad to see the Taoiseach's annual mark is as clear as ever.

Few things in life are more important to a family than the birth of a child. Few things cause people more confusion than to receive a determination of something that will place that child at a disadvantage. Probably nothing causes more anger and consternation in families than when the State fails in its duty to provide for such children.

As Members meet this morning, approximately 150 cases remain backed up in the High Court involving parents who, by virtue of a no-appeals mechanism, have been forced to bring their cases to court for determination and to have their wishes regarding education for their children followed through. This issue is highly sensitive. Every year, approximately 11,000 children present with special needs nationwide. The Government and the Minister for Education and Science are implacably opposed to any extension of the applied behavioural analysis, ABA, system beyond the 12 pilot schools that were determined by the Minister's predecessor.

No one knows a child better than his or her mother. Although the Constitution purports to treat the children of the nation equally, those children who live close to the 12 ABA units at least have a chance of gaining access to them if it is determined that this constitutes the best education for them. However, this is not the case in the vast majority of other locations nationwide. This causes parents enormous consternation and anger, some of whom are before the High Court as I speak to defend their right to have the State provide the most appropriate education for their children.

Although the Taoiseach has been head of Government for ten years, it takes parents between two and seven years to get an assessment for their children. This constitutes a national scandal.

See this speech in context