Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his reply. Everyone certainly needs to work together, but this is an emergency situation. Private therapists need to be brought into our special schools quickly. The only way that can be done is if all the REOs are directed to provide the funding to allow for these private therapists in the meantime, because the children are really finding it difficult. It is extremely challenging for the teachers.

This week, I visited Offaly School of Special Education, which is in my constituency. I heard at first hand from those teachers and SNAs. They are doing fantastic work but they need supports and they need them quickly. I was a teacher for 12 years and I experienced situations in which I was constantly fighting for resources for children in the school. I saw that clearly. Parents are becoming frustrated and are battling all of the time. Will the Government commit to writing to all regional executive officers and directing them to renew their focus on the issue of funding for private therapists? Will the Government commit to initiating reform of the children's disability network teams model, especially those aspects that are making the problems worse for schools like the Offaly School of Special Education and Kolbe Special School in Portlaoise?

See this speech in context