Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I have just listened very closely to what the Minister has said and I have heard her outline investment and funding that is going in to special education. If one was to listen to her describe the investment, one would say we were in a much better place. Last Saturday, I went to Grand Parade in Cork city for the second protest vigil organised by Families Unite for Services and Support, FUSS, with regard to services for children with disabilities. I listened to their parents. Parents and children with disability described what they have had to do to get services and education in this State.

Since I was elected two years ago, I have raised the issue of both school places and services for children with disabilities and I hear a long list of what is happening. However, I am telling the Minister that there are children who do not have schools to go to in September. There are parents who do not know what they will do and still, I hear what the Government outlines. We know the data show that there are not enough places for children. What is being done? The buck stops with the Government. Why must these families always fight? These families are angry, frustrated and tired. They are tired of always having to fight for every single thing for their children. It is not right. A phrase in the Proclamation of 1916 that is quoted many times is "cherishing all the children of the nation equally". I can tell the Minister that a parent of a child with a disability does not feel that his or her child is being cherished.

I ask her to accept that Deputy Ó Laoghaire has brought forward a proposal. There should not be politics about the issue of disability services and school places. We should be able to work together to deliver for these most vulnerable children.

7 o’clock

I plead with the Minister and the Government to accept the Deputy's proposal because it is the start of a solution.

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