Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

As I look around the Chamber, I see the busts of those involved in the 1916 Rising. The Proclamation of the Irish Republic resolved to cherish all children of the nation equally. This has been used before many times. It can almost become cliched at times, but it must be stated that in the area of special education, we are not cherishing children equally. Article 24 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities states:

States Parties recognize the right of persons with disabilities to education. With a view to realizing this right without discrimination and on the basis of equal opportunity, States Parties shall ensure an inclusive education system at all levels and life long learning.

Ireland is lagging behind in this regard. In my constituency of Dublin Mid-West and other areas that have been mentioned, there are significant challenges that demand immediate attention. This year is the 21st anniversary of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act. Many of the main sections of that Act which would have benefited children with additional educational needs have not yet been implemented. An example in this regard is the provision of individual education plans.

The demand for special education placements continues to rise steadily. This year, the 2024-25 academic year, the special education teacher allocation model has been redesigned to provide more teaching hours for children with complex needs. Despite that, many children, particularly those with additional needs, still lack access to appropriate educational settings. As others have mentioned regarding their constituencies, I see parents in Dublin Mid-West in areas like Lucan and Clondalkin seeking special classes and autism units well outside the geographic areas in which they live. I welcome the fact that a special education school is being put in place in Lucan, but we are not doing enough. We must ask ourselves whether we cherish all children equally and whether we need to allocate more resources.

See this speech in context