Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)

I thank Deputy Brian Hayes for tabling the motion. A parent's world collapses when he or she informed that his or her son or daughter has a learning disability. Parents want to do everything they can to address, or at least mitigate, the impact of the disability. One of the biggest decisions many families have to make, depending on the level of disability, is where a child with special needs should attend school, for example, whether the child should attend a special school, a special class in a mainstream school or attend a mainstream class. The supports available in each setting following discussions with the school at least in part determines where the child is educated. Fundamental to the decision taken by parents is the objective that they want to ensure their child is able to integrate and function in society and to ensure he or she has maximum independence in order that he or she has every opportunity to maximise his or her potential.

An SNA is allocated to a pupil to help him or her integrate into the school environment and to meet his or her needs. My office, no more than any other Member's office, is inundated by calls from parents throughout my constituency who outline how services have been withdrawn and the impact that is having on their children. However, it also has an impact on the children who have been determined by the Department and the SENO to require an SNA and the supports need to remain in place. They are also affected by the decisions that have been taken and their supports are being undermined.

Due to the cutbacks, in one school an SNA is looking after both a leaving certificate student and a junior certificate student. Two weeks ago mock certificate examinations were taken in the school but the junior certificate student could not sit hers because she was told no one was available to assist her. She was the only child who did not sit her mock examinations the same week as everyone else. Where is the integration in this case? The family is being encouraged to dissuade the child from doing transition year along with her peers. She is being denied the choice of transition year, even though her family is anxious that she does it. She comes from a large family and all her siblings have done transition year. The reason for this she will turn 18 years in fifth year and no support will be provided for her in sixth year. As a result, she is being told she cannot do transition year with her classmates with whom she has gone through three years in secondary school. How is she being helped to integrate into society? The experts believe this child requires support but she is being denied it because of the decisions being taken by the Department of Education and Science. The Government could find €40 billion for Anglo Irish Bank. Surely it can find the small amount needed to ensure that child retains her dignity and that every other child in the education setting who needs them is given the supports he or she requires.

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