Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise the matter around the needs of special needs children and young people across Cavan and Monaghan. First, I thank the Minister, Deputy Norma Foley, who kindly reached out and met with the parents from Special Needs Active Parents, SNAP, which is a very articulate organisation of parents who represent the needs of their children in County Monaghan. I also thank the Minister of State, Deputy Anne Rabbitte, who kindly came to the constituency and has provided assurances that respite services will indeed be provided into the future.

Today, I wish to raise the absolute need for a special school for the children in County Monaghan. Currently, all these kids in Cavan and Monaghan are attending the Holy Family School. While it is a state-of-the-art facility, it is only one school and it is not enough for it to have the capacity to deal with children in both Cavan and Monaghan. The parents rightly demand their own special school for County Monaghan. I ask the Tánaiste to do whatever it takes and to work with the Minister, Deputy Norma Foley, to deliver that. I also ask the Tánaiste to look at the possibility for day services for these children when they leave school. We currently do not have this in County Monaghan.

To wrap up, can the Minister of State, Deputy Anne Rabbitte, give us some sense as to when the Irish Wheelchair Association in County Cavan will have its in-person service back again?

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