Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Bill refers to the autism strategy, service delivery and all the various aims of the strategy. There is no doubt that education must form a central part of such a strategy. Two weeks ago, I had the opportunity to speak on special needs education. We are falling short in many areas in that regard. In that speech, I highlighted a discussion I had recently with a parent of a child with special educational needs. She highlighted to me the constant battle for provision and resources that she has had to endure. The absence of long-term support plans means that too many parents are left anxiously waiting each summer to discover whether their child will have the resources he or she needs for the next school year. That includes children with autism. We must never underestimate the importance of the support given to those who need it most, and create long-term sustainable plans.

Should a template be required, Kilrane National School in south County Wexford stands out as a prime example of exactly what can be provided in terms of special educational needs and inclusivity in rural Ireland. The school has a top-class additional needs unit with a reputation for catering for every child in the community, regardless of ability. I take this opportunity to commend the school principal, Eoin Ó Donnagáin, or Máistir Eoin as he is best known locally in Rosslare, all his school staff and the school community on the inclusive ethos of the school, which is widely praised in education circles. Máistir Eoin will retire in August. A day of celebrations will take place in the school today - obviously, I cannot be there - in recognition of the immeasurable service he has given. Eoin has been bold, progressive, forward-thinking and dynamic in his position as school principal and that has resulted in a school that is all-inclusive in every sense of the word. I commend him on an accomplished career and wish him a healthy and relaxed retirement.

I will get back to the Bill. Those with special educational needs require constant support. The model of making parents and schools reapply and reassess every year needs to be replaced with a longer term approach. The needs do not disappear. It should be a system of ongoing provision. To illustrate what that means, I will refer to an email I received from a principal. She stated:

We appealed our Special Education allocation of hours. We were increased only by 1 hour. We have 60 hours which means 2 full time teachers and 10 hours shared with ‘another school’. We have great need in our school. We actively went after an ASD class in 2018 and opened a second one two years ago which we feel is an incredible step considering some schools now have to be compelled [under section 37] to open them.

We must resource and support the current system to ensure educational needs are delivered, and delivered in a manner that will sustain those with special needs as they potentially move towards full-time employment, living alone and so on. Acting now is a stitch in time to ensure adequate provision of services. I am tired of hearing from people who are having to fight for their needs. This is the case for everybody on the autism spectrum, right across the country, as the Minister of State has heard today. It seems to me that the only people who do not know what is happening are those in the Department. The Minister of State is new to the Department and to ministerial office. I know she is doing her best. She has made inroads and I hope that continues. We badly need a system and a strategy that work. We need a system that shows we know what is going on and that when a child starts in junior infants, there is a plan for his or her second level education and he or she will not just fell out of the system.

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