Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I know the Minister of State's commitment. I have worked with her for a few years. I welcome her comments and the fact she said she now has €11.5 million. She spoke about the 200 children in Carlow. I am very much aware of the cases in the county. It worries me when I look at a school such as Holy Angels that excels in the service it has for children with disabilities. Holy Angels had CE scheme workers who were doing much of the work. It is sad we do not have CE schemes anymore and we need to address that. However, we should also be in a position whereby there would be funding for a school such as Holy Angels, with the service it gives, when it needs recruitment.

I know because I am on the board of Holy Angels. I see the work done by the school, the committee and the volunteers. They are constantly fundraising every few months. I know during Covid, everybody was affected and we understand that. We are always saying, as is the Minister of State, that we have to assess children early. Children leaving Holy Angels schools, who are going to a primary school, are not being assessed because there is no one there to assess them. If they are not being assessed when they are going into primary school, we will not know what we can do for them. Therefore, they need to be assessed before they leave Holy Angels school and go to another school. I know how dedicated the Minister of State is. There are huge issues. We were nearly hitting crisis point. I believe her commitment and dedication, as well as the extra funding, will do a lot of good and will help many children and their families. I have seen the stress on parents' faces at public meetings. I see what they are going through. It is affecting their children. They are there to represent their children, do the best for them and give them the best chance in life.

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