Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Government, in its programme for Government, committed to commencing a review of the July provision scheme on the advice of the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, to examine issues of access and funding, with a view to extending the scheme to children with Down's syndrome. Despite this, children with Down's syndrome remain ineligible for the scheme as Down's syndrome is still not considered to be a qualifying condition for access to support. Given that the issue was raised earlier, the Minister for Education and Skills will be aware that 21 March is World Down Syndrome Day. Will the Taoiseach mark this global day by giving a commitment to extend eligibility for the scheme in order that children with Down's syndrome and their families will finally have access to vital supports and have their needs met?

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