Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. It is cruel that we force the parents of children with autism to campaign and canvass politicians to have their children educated in their local school. We all desire for children to be educated locally but the stress of having a child with autism who cannot be educated locally is severe. The child must be taken out of the catchment area and transported to another area where he or she feels alienated and not at home. The Minister of State needs to recognise that the Government has power, since December of last year and under section 8 of the Education (Admission to Schools) Act, to do something practical and real in this regard.

I acknowledge that the Minister of State referred to information meetings but the parents do not want more information meetings: they want action. If local schools are not going to provide classes for children with autism, the Minister, after consultation with the NCSE, has the power to direct additional resources. I want the Minister of State to be aware of that power and exercise it. The Oireachtas gives Ministers powers so they can do something with them.

See this speech in context