Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I accept that there have been increases in the last couple of budgets but the cuts were so severe in the previous ones that it has definitely resulted in some poor outcomes for many children with disabilities.

The Minister mentioned individual education plans, which the EPSEN Act called for. Some schools do make them but it is still not a legal requirement as far as I know. The idea is that all professionals involved in the provision of education to a child with special needs would work in a joined up way. It remains aspirational, however. I am not sure if the Minister is saying that the new changes will make it obligatory to operate in this manner.

Parents feel disempowered and find themselves at the mercy of the National Council for Special Education when seeking resources. They are also very much at the mercy of schools. Does the Minister not think that parents should be allowed to have a stronger role in what happens? The parents I know who have children with special needs are involved in a phenomenal amount of work to make it happen. They must struggle to get a fair deal for their children. They should therefore have a bigger stake in the decision-making process.

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