Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Social justice means ensuring everyone, no matter who they are or where they live, has the opportunity to develop, be self-determining and participate positively in the community. The barriers that deny social justice for people with disabilities are well recognised. For instance, there are ignorant attitudes, inaccessible facilities, inappropriate and inadequate services and supports. It is relevant that the Taoiseach and the former Tánaiste, Deputy Eamon Gilmore, acknowledged these barriers in the 2011 general election campaign. It is significant they both identified disabilities as their key social policy priority.

The objective of a right to education, as described by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child, is to maximise the child’s ability and opportunity to participate fully and responsibly in a free society. The committee, in its 2006 concluding observations on Ireland, welcomed efforts to strengthen the legal and policy framework for special educational needs. However, it also noted concerns about the cost of education materials, the participation of children in decisions affecting them and the high drop-out rate among children with disabilities. It made a series of recommendations to address these shortcomings which included improving school buildings and facilities and dealing with bullying.

Article 28 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child recognises the right of the child to an education. It states: "States parties shall promote and encourage international co-operation in matters relating to education, in particular [with a view to contributing] to the elimination of ... illiteracy". It is about equipping a child with adequate literacy and numeracy skills which are essential and central to their progression from a life of poverty, disadvantage and marginalisation. Every state must ensure every child’s basic right to development is vindicated to the maximum extent. One of the aims of education under the convention is the development of the child’s personality, talents, as well as mental and physical abilities to his or her full potential. Children with disabilities have the right to assistance appropriate to their condition which is designed to ensure the child has effective access to education and receives an education in a manner conducive to achieving his or her full social integration and individual development.

The former Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, has met representatives of St. Francis special school in Beaufort, County Kerry, which provides an excellent service for pupils aged between four and 18 years who have been assessed with a moderate to profound general learning disability. Up until the end of the 2013 school year, the school delivered physiotherapy, as well as speech and occupational therapy by on-site therapists. The services were adequate and met the most essential needs of the children. Since the reconfiguration and implementation of the progressing disability services for children and young people programme by the Health Service Executive, the therapists have been removed from the site. Accordingly, the children have been denied these therapies which are essential for their well-being. I know that the former Minister gave a positive response to the school and public representatives when he met them to discuss this matter. Will the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, intercede to improve the services further with more therapists? When will the four therapists promised for County Kerry be hired? How many of them will go to making up the shortfall in services at St. Francis special school? When will the public sector recruitment embargo be lifted to replace staff on maternity or sick leave or who have retired?

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