Francis Noel Duffy (Dublin South West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her opening statement and wholeheartedly support her aspirations in her role. I want to be positive in my discourse, and I hope I am, as the area of special educational needs is very important to many parents, guardians, siblings, providers and, most importantly, the persons who should be afforded an education to allow them to evolve as human beings. I am not here to hold the Minister of State to account. Instead, I would like to relate to her some of my experiences over my time as a public representative. I am not an expert, but there appears to be something missing. From what I have seen, the State is failing and has failed many of these people and their families, at least in my constituency.

We are a wealthy, first world country but we are not meeting our obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which recognises the right of persons with disabilities to education. In my constituency of Dublin South-West, there are 21 primary schools with one or two ASD units, which accommodate six students per class, and only three post-primary schools with ASD classes. The question worried parents ask is where are these children expected to go once they complete their primary education.

Many of these families are not afforded the opportunity to pick a school wherever they like or in their catchment area. It is, therefore, already profoundly difficult to find a place for their children. I believe the Department needs to prioritise a solution and process that ensures every single child in this State will be provided with an opportunity to vindicate his or her right to an education. We should not and cannot have our most vulnerable children in the State denied their right to education. We should not put the onus on families to provide home tuition simply because finding a place for their child in school has become impossible.

I understand the Minister of State intends to invoke section 37A to ensure mainstream schools provide the necessary ASD classes. Families and schools would be extremely grateful if the Department could provide clarity on how these schools will be supported with the funding required for facilities, equipment, staffing and other resources they need to set up these classes appropriately.

Schools are not maliciously resisting the idea of ASD units. Rather, it is a matter of not having the capacity or support to provide the classes. From what I have seen in some places, these schools are on their knees financially. There are schools in my constituency that have buildings that are close to collapsing. They are unable to secure grants for retrofitting because the buildings are too unstable. Therefore, to ask these schools to put their already limited funding towards an ASD class and staffing instead of repairing the roof to ensure the safety of the students is unrealistic.

I recently met with SparkAbility and have been in contact with other groups such as Tallaght Parents Autism Support Group. It is fantastic organisations that provides valuable services to people with disabilities, mainly autism. It offers support to families and give people with autism the opportunity to grow, flourish and be connected with their community. It is providing a service the State should be providing, and without State remuneration. SparkAbility's funding relies solely on nominal fees and it has no permanent venue. We must ensure organisations of this nature are given security and stability to continue these services to ensure that no child or person with disabilities falls through the cracks. I would be grateful if the Minister of State could afford some of her time to meet with the members of the SparkAbility team and hear their proposals. The organisation has a fantastic model of care that could be used nationwide to help families and children. I will write to the Minister of State with its details.

See this speech in context