Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú) | Oireachtas source

As recently elected TDs, we have all seen the pressing and urgent situation faced by many families. I have no doubt the Minister knocked on hundreds of doors, just as we did. We were met with challenging situations of parents and families trying to meet the needs of their children while managing work and family life and advocating for basic rights and the needs of their children. What struck me over the past number of weeks was that the Government moved earth to create more ministerial positions for its colleagues, yet we cannot show the same priority, urgency and creative, outside-the-box thinking for spaces in our schools and for National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, psychologists, speech and language therapists, teachers, etc. The shortage of NEPS psychologists has massive implications. That is shocking.

In one case that is very close to me, a 15-year-old boy has still not received a diagnosis. The teachers in his school were left to make a decision on which children to put forward for assessment. The case was made to put a younger boy forward because the 15-year-old had almost finished his schooling. Imagine that. This is what is happening in our schools on the ground.

There are also major issues with special educational needs co-ordinators in schools. This job has become very demanding. There has been a huge surge in the number of students in schools with additional language requirements. Teachers have to deal with this issue as well. It is causing major difficulties. Principals are looking for support and additional allocated hours so that we can help these vulnerable students to access supports and support the teachers who are helping them. This cannot be done, however, because many of these teachers are teaching full time and this role is an add-on. It is simply not good enough for the teachers who are working hard. I commend them. I know countless teachers and principals who are doing massive work. It is unacceptable that they are being left with such little support. I ask the Minister to consider providing allocating more hours to those teachers who are trying their best and encountering difficult situations while helping many families.

What did the Government do during the current teacher shortage? It added another year to the professional master in education, PME, course. Rather than taking four or five years to become a teacher, it now takes six or seven years. This needs to be looked at.

We all learn from what happens on the ground. It is really important that we look at that in the context of addressing the teacher shortage. It is also important to look at specific training for teachers in the special education sector.

I have met many people who care for vulnerable children and elderly adults. One wonderful lady who had taken time off work since the birth of her child spoke about how she had to give up her work, social life and hobbies. This woman did not get a cent from the State. The reason for this was because she was means tested on the strength of her husband's salary. Where is the respect and appreciation for this mother and the countless other women and fathers who do wonderful work? This should be examined. This is totally derogatory and unacceptable when it comes to the mother to whom I refer, who is doing Trojan work for her children, for society, for her community and for the economy. There is no regard for or appreciation of this wonderful person I met. I ask the Government to consider removing the means test immediately because it is unacceptable.

I also wish to bring the Government's attention to the knock-on implications for the pension gap. This is a major issue for so many. It affects women disproportionately. The major pension gap relating to carers in particular needs to be addressed. The auto-enrolment scheme is going to exacerbate the problem. People who take time out of work to care for the most vulnerable in our society should be valued by this State.

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