Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas a ghabháil leis an Aire Stáit as ucht an post nua atá aici. Go n-éirí an t-ádh léi. Tá a lán obair thábhachtach le déanamh aici. I have spoken to many parents throughout north Kildare whose children require special education. Parents of children on the autism spectrum and with other special needs feel invisible. These are children who rely heavily on the classroom for support, order, regularity, security and routine.

This helps them to relax, learn, flourish and reach their full potential.

Children with special needs have lost out significantly since schools closed. Their routines were turned upside down and the lack of socialisation has affected them deeply. They lost almost two terms of the past academic year and they really do not wish to be overlooked again. Parents are contemplating the loss suffered by their children as well as experiencing all kinds of anxiety about sending the children back to school in this new Covid world. These parents are at the end of their tether in the current circumstances. They are afraid that their beloved children will be swallowed up in the sinkhole of pre-Covid school and post-Covid school.

Many of them are also afraid as a result of their child being one of the many in special education who have underlying conditions. These families have an extremely difficult decision to make. They must choose whether to send their children back to school and risk their health or keep them at home and apply for homeschool assistance.

Three schools were fully or partially closed as of last night. The latest reports I have heard today indicate that a further three schools have been affected. We need a plan B and a plan C. Remote learning must be an option for families at high risk, including those with a family member at home who is high risk or very high risk. I hope that is a matter which the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, can raise with the Minister, Deputy Foley. These parents need to have a choice and the right to change their mind if treatment for Covid-19 improves as we learn more about this novel virus.

Children with special educational needs were only afforded half a page in the guidance on special education in the reopening plan. A specific guidance document for this cohort is urgently needed and I hope that is something the Minister of State will be working on shortly.

Last week, I spoke to the Minister, Deputy Foley, about schools reopening at a special meeting she hosted for Deputies representing County Kildare. I asked her to ensure that special education teachers and special needs assistants would not be pulled in every direction and expected to take on extra tasks not connected with the provision of special needs education. Every SNA will be put to the pin of his or her collar and we will need extra SNAs just by virtue of the fact that there are more children who need that help, as well as to deal with the inevitable absenteeism that will occur.

The Minister of State has a significant task ahead of her. It is our special children's well-being that we are talking about and there is nothing more precious to parents than that. I wish her the very best of luck.

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