Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

This is not a reflection on the Minister of State, but a reflection on her officials and the response she has given me. I gave notice two weeks ago. This issue was selected two weeks ago for response. It is a very specific case. I gave the correspondence reference in the Topical Issue notice I gave. I expected a detailed response on this particular case. The Minister of State is correct that yesterday the principal of the school and the mother were contacted, 14 months after the applications went in. It is not good enough. It should not require me to bring it to the floor of the House for that engagement to take place, with the issue having been selected two weeks ago. I take the point the Minister of State made and I will give her the benefit of the doubt on it. I want specific progress in getting this issue addressed.

The National Council for Special Education is saying there was no formal engagement with the visiting teacher. I want to put on the public record here that in February 2016, the then visiting teacher - I have a letter on Department-headed notepaper dated February 2016 in the name of the visiting teacher - produced a report for the 11-year-old girl just before she started in primary school with the diagnosis and everything. It specifically states in black and white that this young girl is eligible for the visiting teacher for visually impaired support. The second last sentence of the letter states, "I will be liaising with the school and home supporting this girl in my role as [visiting teacher for the visually impaired] VTVI who can also contact me as needed." That is not any informal engagement. These children deserve the equipment that has been recommended for them to receive and I want to see that happen.

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