Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this topical issue. I suspect it is one that is rarely raised in the House.

All Members of the House are rightly concerned with ensuring that the State supports children who may have learning difficulties or other disadvantages that might hamper their educational development or their general opportunities in life. It might seem a little strange to be seeking support for very bright or gifted children with exceptional learning ability, but it is an issue that we must address both for the well-being of the children concerned and also for the benefit of the country. It is tempting to be glib and ask what these children could possibly need and to say they are very lucky and that their parents should be thankful. However, these children have specific requirements which must be met if they are to fulfil their potential and maximise the contribution they can make to society and the economy.

We all recall from our childhoods that the worst thing a child can be is different, one way or the other. There is a danger of exceptionally gifted children being isolated and sometimes frustrated in the learning environment they occupy in the standard State school system. These children learn faster, earlier and differently. There is a growing population of children in Ireland with what is called dual exceptionality. This is where their intellectual ability is often in the top 5% quotient or above, but they also might have a mild to severe learning challenge and sometimes even a profound disability. Being an exceptionally bright child does not always mean that the child will have an exceptionally bright future, and parenting can be a daunting challenge for those who are rearing what is known as a gifted child.

Unlike many countries, there appear to be scant resources available in Ireland for exceptionally able children, yet it is estimated there are over 27,000 children who fit into this category. There is also probably a need to ensure that training is provided for teachers to recognise and cater for children with exceptional ability. On the face of it, there appears to be a lack of opportunities for those children to develop their talents and skills further. I am aware of the facilities in Dublin City University, DCU, and the University of Limerick. However, if one identifies a gifted footballer, musician or artist when they are young, those skills are honed, encouraged and developed. There is a vast number of children in this country, 27,000, who fit the profile of being exceptionally able, so it is important that we try, in so far as we can and notwithstanding the resources available to us, to contribute as much as possible to develop their ability so they can fit in and continue to enjoy the school and general learning experience they encounter.

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