Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)

I thank my colleague, Deputy Brian Hayes, for raising this serious matter in the Dáil and thank our visitors in the Public Gallery for attending tonight's debate.

Last week, the Minister for Education and Science destroyed the hopes of 70 families of autistic children by withdrawing the funding for their special needs education. These families, attached to four schools set up by parents of autistic children, received funding on a monthly basis for one-to-one tuition. A payment was due last week but instead, they received a letter from the Department telling them that their home tuition is ending next month and they must prepare to enrol their children in school, where they will be taught at a ratio of at least six to one. Each of these children has individual needs and the one-to-one tuition which they are currently receiving should continue.

Achieve ABA school in Donaghmede is in my Dublin North-East constituency. It was established to provide education for autistic children and was founded by a group of parents whose children's needs were not being catered for by the Department of Education and Science. The Minister, Deputy Hanafin, was providing a home tuition allowance, which covered half of the costs to the parents of the children attending this school. The parents have now been told by the Minister, "My way, or no way". Only four of the six children have received notification of a school place. I now call on the Minister to tell the House what schools have been allocated to the other two children.

I have many questions arising from the Minister's speech last night and am disappointed she is not here to answer them.

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