David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle's office for selecting this Topical Issue. I also thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and the Minister of State for being here.

A number of weeks ago, I got an email from a family in which they state that their daughter, Orla, who has Down's syndrome, will complete her secondary school education next June. Orla is a wonderful, fun-loving girl who is looking forward to moving on with her friends to the next level of education. Due to her learning disability, however, Orla is unable to use public transport safely. She has no numeracy or literacy skills and her family would consider her extremely vulnerable without supervision. The HSE has advised that Orla must arrange her own transport to the training centres. I understand transport was provided pre-Covid but that seems to have stopped. It is simply not feasible for the parents to drive Orla to Cork city, which would involve two round trips, five days a week, at a total estimated mileage of 500 miles per week, while minding other family members and working as well.

It is interesting that the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins, is in attendance. He and the Minister, Deputy Harris, are doing amazing work on third level. Like her peers, this young woman is moving from second level to third level. At third level, we have the national access plan. At higher education level, we have the fund for students with disabilities. We have PATH 4 and apprentices are looked after well. This young woman wants to do her best and move forward, but she cannot get to the centre.

I have raised this matter a number of times, including last week with the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, who told me in the House that the personal assistant, PA, route was a solution. The family have also suggested home pick-up and drop-off by bus, pick-up and drop-off from a designated location in the local town, or a travel assistant supervisor - a PA - who might escort these young people on public transport so that they can get to where they are going safely.

The Minister of State, Deputy Collins, is doing a great deal of work at third level. I ask that he work with his peers in government to examine this matter. This small number of young citizens deserve and need our support, but they are not getting it.

I was told that a disability stakeholder group – the transport working group – had been established. Its work has concluded and it is now considering transport for people with disabilities. Maybe the Minister of State will investigate what is happening in that regard. Maybe he will also revert to me, via the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, on how the PA route could be financed. The HSE has told the family that it has no funding for this and has passed the family on to the Cope Foundation, but the foundation has told the family that the transport has to be specifically funded by the HSE. They are going around in circles, one agency fobbing them off onto the next.

I have raised this matter by way of a number of parliamentary questions. I have been told that no one is responsible. We do not know who is responsible. Who can assist these young citizens, who surely have the same rights as the citizens that the Minister of State is looking after at third level, further education and apprenticeships? These young people face challenges. They want to get on, but they need support. Perhaps the Minister of State will consider taking this training and further education aspect under the umbrella of his Department. These are third level students in their own way, they have a great deal to contribute and they have the same rights as we do. Consider the legislation we have passed and debates we have had down the years. We need to look after these people. They need our support and assistance.

I look forward to the Minister of State's reply. He has a script in front of him that he will read out, but perhaps he will leave it aside for a little while and tell the House what he thinks and feels about this issue and whether his Department can get involved in supporting and helping these third level students, who are getting into further education and training.

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