Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

There have been endless calls also from parents for the reintroduction of the summer programme for children with special needs. These programmes provide a continuation of daily routines which help children to feel more secure. They ensure consistency and help, which provide stability. For children with special needs, the provision of this stability cannot be overstated. A lack of routine and structure can lead to serious regression, which can impact social skills, behavioural skills and even communication skills. Summer programmes can be a lifesaver for parents. When their child maintains an active routine, care at home can be much more manageable and much less stressful.

The recruitment and retention of therapists to children's disability network teams, CDNTs, is completely vital. If schools were supported and resourced properly throughout the year, there would be far better outcomes for children and families and more schools would be able to offer summer programmes.

Finally, we also need to address the very significant shortage of respite and residential services, which compounds the challenges for these families.

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