Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

When I listen to the Minister of State, I must ask myself how much satisfaction will the parents of those children or those of other children with special needs get from that reply. I acknowledge that progress is being made but I return to the point that services must be timely and while we are waiting on the reconfiguration and the posts to be filled, children are missing out on a service which, if it were available to them now, would have a really important impact on their recovery and ability to get on with their lives. I accept that progress is being made but I also make the point that urgency is needed because children are falling through the cracks at the moment and the situation is worsening.

The National Council for Special Education, NCSE, gave a very interesting presentation in the audiovisual room last week or the week before. It brought it all together for me. We were given a nice, glossy information booklet for parents of children and young people with special educational needs. I have that book to hand and there is a lot in it, including information for parents, children and young people with special needs. It covers a range of topics including definitions, assessment, supporting roles and organisations that support children. That book also refers to a number of other publications. However, all of us in the audiovisual room had faced situations showing that what is contained in the book is not being delivered. There is a disconnect between what agencies and Departments claim to be happening and available or what is supposed to happen or to be available and the reality. The reality is that those services are not there when parents in that situation look for them. Alternatively, they are told there is a waiting list and no parent wants to wait for a service they know is vitally needed for their children. Booklets like that are false advertisement giving out false information. They are raising parents' hopes that all they have to do is check this leaflet, ring that organisation and they will get the service. I do not think that is fair.

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