Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Anti-Austerity Alliance) | Oireachtas source

Last night I attended a heartbreaking public meeting organised by the parents connected with Cara junior school on the Banduff Road, just outside Cork city. I was given to understand it was the only autism-specific primary school in Cork. They were the parents of 60 children, some of whom are autistic and some of whom have learning disabilities, allergies, epilepsy and sensory and behavioural health issues. They explained that the teachers and special needs assistants were brilliant but that there were no more resources available. There are no speech and language therapists in the school, nor is there an occupational therapist, a physiotherapist or a nurse. The parents have been thrown from Billy to Jack, or between the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Health, for a considerably long time. They have got so tired of this that they have brought the matter to their local Deputies and I am bringing it to the attention of the Taoiseach today. My question is simply this: what is intended to be done for the parents connected with Cara junior school and their children and also for parents and children in similar circumstances throughout the State? Those affected in Cara junior school are not alone.

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