Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party) | Oireachtas source

Congratulations to both Ministers on their appointments. I thank Sinn Féin for bringing this motion before the House. Having listened to this debate for the past hour and a half, the stories being recounted by many of my colleagues are the same as the stories in Cork North-Central. Parents must fight a continuing battle to get an assessment for their children and procure places for them. They then have to battle with the Department of Social Protection for domiciliary care. I could go on.

I bring the attention of the House to one of my constituents who travels two hours and 40 minutes every day to bring her child to and from school. It takes me two hours and 43 minutes to travel from my house to Leinster House. The lady in question drives for that time every day to look after her child and ensure the child has a place. She goes from Ballincollig to Fermoy and back again while also trying to run a household, look after and care for her other children and provide for her family. That is what people are going through and it is not being addressed.

We have an old saying in life, nemo resideo, which means no one is left behind. We must ensure no child gets left behind. We must do and achieve more for our children in special needs and special needs education. This area is not being addressed. That is being echoed not just in my constituency but throughout this entire country. We must do better for the future of our children.

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