Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I support the motion to ensure children with special and additional needs have the same fair chance at education as anybody else. Where they do have access we hear that the emphasis is often more on containment than on education. There are significant challenges for people trying to get into the system through an assessment of need and to get up and running. There are considerable delays, particularly in Cork, where parents are constantly raising the issue with me.

While there are places with schools where everything is up and running and working well, and it is important to acknowledge this, there are significant gaps in other areas. Ballincollig has a population of almost 20,000. It has five primary schools and two secondary schools but no ASD unit. Children must travel for miles to another school, often separately from their brothers and sisters. I ask the Minister of State to see if there is some way to focus on ensuring that in places where there is demand, ASD units are available, such as in Ballincollig.

Tá faillí á déanamh ar pháistí go bhfuil riachtanais speisialta acu agus tá dúshlán ann dóibh. Tá dúshlán acu cheana féin ach níor chóir go mbeadh an córas ag cur isteach orthu agus ag cur bac orthu mar atá sé. Ba chóir don Aire Stáit dul i ngleic leis an dúshlán sin agus a chinntiú go mbeidh deis ag gach páiste teacht ar chóras oideachais gan aon bac ón gcóras féin.

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