Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State referred to what children with Down's syndrome may receive. In this day and age, that is not acceptable. The rights of children with Down's syndrome should be stronger. Also, as the Minister of State will be aware, the GAM is not one-to-one provision.

I take the Minister of State's point about moderate general learning disability because most parents are reasonably happy about this, but my complaint and that of parents is that the rest of the children with Down's syndrome, particularly the ones who are "good", have more potential to develop if they are given the supports and fantastic work can be done with them. Also, we feel strongly that a child with Down's syndrome in mainstream school will regress if he or she does not get such supports.

The Minister of State will be aware that there are great examples of good practice in the quality of services for Down's syndrome but we need to develop them further and we need to include the right. I ask the Minister of State to prioritise this issue over the next 12 months. It is in the programme for Government. I accept we are in difficult times, but children with disabilities should always be given priority.

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