Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)

I welcome this important debate on special needs education, particularly for children with autism. I commend the parents and families of these children on their work, commitment and courage in this regard. As a parent of a daughter with an intellectual disability, I will continue to push and fight for the development of educational services and will do my best, both in the Dáil with the Minister and in the broader community, to ensure delivery of a top-class quality service for all children with special needs and all children with a disability.

All good teachers and parents know that from the start each child is unique. Each child is special and individual. We must recognise uniqueness. This, for me, must be the anchor of our education system. I speak as a parent and as a former primary school teacher. When I looked at ABA, talked to parents, looked at particular schools and listened to objective professionals, I found ABA to be child-centred, inclusive, multi-element intervention and a great option. Let us remember, we are all learning on this issue and we must be open to new ideas that work.

This is not to say that other methods, strategies and classroom situations do not work. They do. All we need to do is open our minds and develop the 12 existing ABA centres and fund further ABA projects. I will work on this strategy both publicly and privately with the Minister for Education and Science. In fairness to the Minister, she has made great efforts at pushing special education in the past six years. She has always given priority to special education and disadvantage and I commend her for that.

The recent budget, which was part of my agreement with the Taoiseach, gave an extra €15 million to disability services and an extra €18 million for special educational needs, despite the downturn in the economy and the clamour for more restrictions on public spending. This is the battle many of us fight each day and tonight's debate is part of that battle. We must all take a serious look at the real issues. We need to do our best to support families and their special needs children. We must also be straight with them.

With regard to autism, I support a broad range of methods, including ABA. I commend all those working in the area, particularly in my constituency. Scoil na mBráthar in Fairview has two autism classes. Scoil Chiaráin, Collins Avenue, Donnycarney, also has two autism classes, as does Our Lady of Consolation, Collins Avenue. At second level, St. David's in Artane has one autism class. These services exist in my constituency and I will continue to fight for their development. We must also support families who want to send or are sending their children to ABA schools. I support that right and that choice.

I said earlier that special education was part of my deal with the Taoiseach. Some of that deal has been rolled out and I welcome that. We all need to do our best to push and develop services for all children with special needs.

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