Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Any parent with a child with special educational needs will say that when their child's need is met it comes as the result of a struggle, fight or battle of some degree. To date the Government has reacted to a series of crises rather than adequately planning out the future. Some very welcome changes were made in this regard but, despite the energy and effort at the time, we still see children with special educational needs who have not been offered a place for September. I have to question the effectiveness of the forward planning and the appropriateness of the data being used. When we look at the projected figures, the figures that come out are only as good as what has gone in. We need a much clearer line of information with regard to the Department, the principals, the building units and the delivery and, ultimately, appropriate places for all of these children. Without this, time and again we see children with special educational needs being put on reduced timetables. I would like to think that is only my experience but I have yet to see one of these children returned to a full timetable.

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