Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

People with autism have an educational need, rather than a medical need. If the change I have proposed were made, there would be no row with the HSE and the Department of Health and Children. At present, some people cannot be appointed to do the jobs for which they have been properly trained. The Taoiseach should take a personal interest in sorting out this problem. He should treat what the Minister, Deputy Hanafin, has said with a degree of scepticism — take it with a pinch of salt. It is not just a question of "send them to school, they will get an education — they will be all right". It is the duty of the State, under the Constitution, to ensure that children are given the best opportunities. If that requires specialist education and specialist facilities, it is the duty of the Government to ensure that happens. Parents should not have to spend €250,000 on their children. They should not be dragged through the courts to defend the right of their children to access the education to which they are properly entitled, at a time when the Minister for Health and Children's six advisers are costing €666,000 per annum.

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