Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank all my colleagues for their contributions to this discussion. It is not really a debate; it is a discussion. I thank the Minister of State not just for being here and participating in this but for all the work she does in this area. I am really looking forward to the launch of the autism innovation strategy. It is great to hear it is just a few weeks away. She said it was initiated before the committee's final report but the two dovetail, and that makes sense.

The onus is on whoever is in Government in the next term, and the next term as we go forward, to continue this work so what was done in this Government term, with the report by the Minister of State and the committee's work, does not stop there. Many good reports are sitting on shelves and have never been implemented. We need legislation that ensures the strategy is reviewed and updated on a regular basis, and that a report is brought to this House on how this is being done and implemented.

A number of Members spoke about summer provision, which is very important. I acknowledge again the work done in recent years by the Department of Education on increasing the numbers year on year. The committee put a spotlight on it. Senator Carrigy did a large amount of work on this. I echo his call that all special schools should provide summer provision. It can be provided in different ways. It does not have to be students sitting in a classroom. In fact, it should not be students sitting in a classroom. It should be students engaging in various activities that are appropriate to them. Students go to the Gaeltacht to learn Irish and they do not necessarily sit in a classroom to do it. They do it through activities, and learning by doing is much more beneficial.

There has been a lot of talk on moving towards a more inclusive education system and the NCSE has come up with some guidelines on this. It is not, as Derval McDonagh of Inclusion Ireland said, about a child fitting into the education system. It should be that the education system is broad and changes to suit a child. There are many ways to do this. Our schools have to become much more universally designed and appropriate for all our children. Children can then access education in their local area. This is a while away and it will take time. It will take time to build up the confidence of parents to send their child to the local school and be assured their child will get an appropriate education there and will be supported. This can only happen through engagement with parents and engagement with the education sector and ensuring that supports are put in place.

Many important points have been made. This is an excellent report and it needs to be implemented. The Minister of State is on the road to doing this and I appreciate it. It is everybody's responsibility to ensure it continues. I reiterate my thanks to the autistic community in particular, whose powerful self-advocacy has culminated in this comprehensive report. I also thank all of the witnesses, whose contributions are reflected in the committee's recommendations. I also reiterate my call on the Government to implement all of the recommendations in the report.

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