Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

A dollar short.

Bhíos ag caint le príomhoide le linn na seachtaine, and they asked me why children with special educational needs are never the highest priority for the Department, which is a fair point. If ever there was a time for them to be the priority, it is now. Children with special educational needs and those suffering educational disadvantage are those who have lost most from school buildings being closed and they should be number one on the Department's agenda. Parents are under unbelievable strain. Children feel, in many instances, isolated and incredibly frustrated. The lack of socialisation is particularly difficult. Tá sé deacair dóibh a thuiscint cén fáth nach féidir leo leanúint lena saolta mar is gnáth. Despite the best efforts of everyone, including teaching staff, they are swamped. We have all been inundated with heartbreaking stories from constituents who are at their wits' end.

The Minister may have seen the report on RTÉ News last week featuring such parents. Dúradar gur bhraith siad go raibh dearmad déanta orthu agus go rabhadar tréigthe. One parent who featured in the report, Ms Angela Hynes, described the impact on her daughter Zoe. She said that Zoe is biting her arm in frustration and is eating her clothes. She said that her daughter is no longer engaging and is "not the child she was nine weeks ago". She used to be able to spoon feed herself, thanks to the hard work and dedication of her teachers but now she has stopped entirely. That is just one example of the kind of falling back that is happening to countless children across the State. These children need support, specialised routines and care. Countless parents have been asking me if July provision was happening this year.

When I asked the Minister, he stated that it was happening or at least some provision would be made. I must say, though, that following on from my contacts with parents and teachers, I am becoming increasingly alarmed about the confusion that exists. From speaking to people in the sector, it seems that the Minister and the Department are not on the same page. A consultation with the Department suggested that the summer scheme would be for children in special schools and classes, excluding the 65% of autistic children in mainstream schools. That evening, the Minister contradicted that. Meanwhile, the public is still in the dark. There is not much detail.

The Minister is saying that Friday is coming, but today is 10 June. How will this be ready? The elephant in the room is that it might not be possible to deliver this on anything near the scale the Minister has discussed. I hope that he does, given how important it is. Right now, however, I am concerned that it will not happen in that way and that we could have a repeat of the SNA reallocation or the failed childcare initiative. I am seeking reassurance in this regard.

Schools are not signing up for this programme because they have no information and likewise teachers. I fear that the numbers will not add up for the ordinary programme, never mind the expanded programme. From what I have heard, only a few schools have signed up. Have more than five or six signed up at this stage?

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