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

The parents I speak to are well used to having to battle the State and having to fight for every service their child has ever received. By the time they get to a SENO, they have already tried everything that is going to be recommended by that SENO. I agree with the Minister of State about regionalisation. My constituency in the midlands was in the same area as Donegal, and Lord help the SENO who was trying to cover that area of ground. It is not just us, the parents or the schools saying this. The Ombudsman for Children has raised concerns about the unacceptable level of stress caused to families when children with additional needs are denied the right to education, which is what this is. All children with SEN should enjoy the right to education without discrimination and on an equal basis with the rest of their peers. I understand what the Minister of State is saying about forward planning. However, the Department recently released figures around the future ability of schools to meet additional SEN requirements. The figures suggest there is going to be an increase of over 11,000 children with additional needs in education by 2030. If the Government cannot get to grips with the demand that is there today, what hope is there of dealing with the needs of an additional 11,000 children by 2030?

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