Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the difficulties many families face when it comes to accessing therapies, supports and assessments of need in communities across the country. This is something I see in my constituency office. I know all of us collectively share the priority in trying to advance progress when it comes to people with additional needs and disabilities.

The Deputy referenced what the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, has sought to advance in budget 2025. There has been an unprecedented investment of €11.8 billion in education and schools in budget 2025. The education budget contains €2.9 billion of funding for special education, which will make a difference for those with additional needs and support the provision of additional places and progress for many families and children. The provision of free school books to all students in the senior cycle makes a difference when it comes to the affordability of education across our school system. There has been a €75 million increase in capitation funding, which supports schools and communities across our country that need improved core budgets. There is over €100 million in additional funding for the school transport system and there are 1,600 more SNAs and 750 additional special education teachers. That makes a difference for students with additional needs, particularly in the special education area. This is why we have sought to advance that in the context of budget 2025.

The Deputy referenced the investment in mobile phone pouches. As I said to Deputy Doherty, this is about investing in wider support for mental health and well-being in schools. We need a practical outworking to this initiative. Parents have reflected concerns about this at second level for many years. This enables schools to implement such a policy by supporting them.

The Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, has been steadfast in securing a much greater disability budget. If we look at the investment in disability since 2019, we can see it has increased by 52%. There is a clear commitment on the part of this Government to help support those with disabilities and their families. Not only are we speaking about the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, we are ensuring that the increase in spending is delivering real improvements in the lives of children with additional needs. This year, there is a record €3.2 billion of funding in the disability area. There is a focus on assessments of need, therapies and ensuring we recruit the front-line staff, who do make a difference. I recognise that the wait times for many children with disabilities are too long in communities across our country and that they are not getting the level of intervention they require but the investment and the prioritisation from the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, will increase the number of front-line workers in the CDNTs, which will help through the budget we have allocated.

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