Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)

I want to speak on this motion about which I feel strongly. One after the other, Government Members preach that they are in favour of ABA and lecture us to the effect that, if we promote ABA, we are not recognising the other methods, but we do recognise them. TEACCH, PECS and others are great methods in their own right.

The matter arising is that parents whose children have been assessed and who state that ABA is the best method are entitled to ABA for their children. I am a parent and all that parents want is for children to achieve their optimum. Nothing more, nothing less, but this is being denied to parents of children with autism. It is as simple as that. An Act has been in place for more than three and a half years. It was enacted by the President on 26 July 2004, but nothing has occurred other than the putting in place of the appeals board. Despite their urgency, no assessments or educational plans have been put in place. The Government needs to act in respect of these simple measures.

Tonight is a defining moment for the Government. There are areas in which funding should not be an issue and disability is one. I agree with my colleague, Deputy Sheahan, as six Government Deputies are on the benches to debate something fundamental to how our nation is perceived. We must look after the disabled and return to a child-centred approach. The Government should ask parents what their children need rather than the Minister lecturing parents as parents know what is best for their children. If parents have had an assessment that shows applied behavioural analysis, ABA, is the best method of education for their child then they should be allowed use a school that offers it. Parents were forced to go to court to get the best for their child and this should not have been the case. The funding should have been provided to allow that child be taught using the ABA method.

In my constituency of Limerick East a school called ABA Bluebell has functioned and done fantastic work since 2004 by raising funds privately. This school should be funded as the issue relates to choice and how our society will be looked upon. I put this to all of the Government TDs here. Deputy Mary O'Rourke made an impassioned plea relating to ABA and if she feels so strongly she should vote with us tonight because the only way we will get the message to the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Mary Hanafin, is if Government backbenchers and Ministers vote with us to put children first. Children who need ABA education should be allowed receive it in an environment with which parents are happy.

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