Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is welcome that we are having this discussion. The problem is that we could probably all operate on the basis of 25 minutes each and deal with multiple issues we all have spinning in our constituencies of parents who have come to us in absolutely dreadful need of services, places in schools and all that is needed when they are dealing with their kids with disabilities.

First, I need to bring up an issue relating to De La Salle College in Dundalk. We all know the issues that exist in the school building programme. Schools give out about the lack of control they have and responsibility. I know of many schools where promises were made about openings, especially for ASD units, for September one year that becomes September of another year. This really has to be dealt with. There are a number of pieces that relate to the matter of this school. The only good news I have had recently is a letter I received from the NCSE. Five families had been told that their sons had been offered places. Then they were told the places were not available. A modular unit was planned but it was to deal with a class already in the school, using classrooms that needed to be returned to the mainstream of the school. In respect of De La Salle College in Dundalk, County Louth, the NCSE told me it is aware of offers having been made and rescinded in respect of autism class provision and that it is following up with the school and the Department of Education with a view to a positive resolution. We are in a four-way conversation at the moment including, the NCSE, the Department, the school and me. I hope it will lead to a positive conclusion. However, I find too often that we deal with these issues and too often they end up being brought up in the Chamber. I have always thought there is an element of failure when you have to go to an elected representative about these issues, but I hope we have a small win in that matter for the parents and children. If the Minister of State can do anything to speed up the process, I would be more than happy.

The Minister of State spoke about therapies. We all know the issues that exist in the CDNTs, primary care and across the board. My son falls into that bracket. Turlough is 15 and my wife went into a panic when he was suddenly transferred from primary care back to the CDNT. She said he would just lie on a waiting list. Many of my colleagues have spoken about the school inclusion model. That is what we need to see. We need to see these services being introduced where there is a need. For a huge number of parents and children, we need to see that happen in a school setting. I would say sooner, better, quicker, faster. That is what we need.

The autism committee met the Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland, the Irish Association of Speech and Language Therapists and the Psychological Society of Ireland. If we got workforce planning and everything sorted, it could be four or five years before we would see that payoff. They said there had not been a discussion on what were the best means of offering the best service we can to parents at this time. That could be added to with assistive technologies. Lisa Marie Clinton of CentralReach was before the autism committee and spoke of the applications it had developed that could help in this sphere. Many of us are aware of Fiacre Ryan, who is non-verbal, his mother, Carmel, and the huge work they have done using RPM. We have seen an element of piloting of ACA technologies but we need to see a hell of a lot more, a hell of a lot quicker. It is as simple as that.

It goes without saying that we need to look again at the issue of SET hours. I was contacted by Scoil Dairbhre, Scoil Mhuire na nGael and Scoil Naomh Lorcan in Omeath. I will read this tiny piece from the principal:

I am very frustrated that our SET allocation has been cut yet again. Our weekly allocation has been cut from 47.5 hours in 2021/22 to 45 in 2022/23 and has been cut further to 40 hours in 2024/25. These cuts are putting an immense strain on our school’s teaching staff and consequently we will be unable to provide the level of SET teaching needed to support a greatly increased number of pupils with the greatest level of need.

This obviously is not in any way-----

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