Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)

I thank Labour for tabling the motion before us today. It is important. Nothing is more important than this.

A large burden is placed on parents when they see their child developing autism. They have to fight for primary school education and special needs teachers. Then, when they move on to post-primary school, they have to do it again. Surely, when a student is diagnosed, the supports should follow through from primary to post-primary education automatically. They should not have to fight for this again. Every child has a right to education. If it is special education, so be it.

I should have thanked the Minister of State for visiting St. Mary of the Angels in Beaufort, our special school, and indeed other schools, but especially St. Mary of the Angels. We have a lot more work to do there.

Another problem arises, in that the Department says it has X number of SNA places and that the country is covered but in many cases it is not. The Minister of State's constituency is the same as mine, in that there are big distances between different schools. A school with an SNA for a child seven or eight miles away is no good if there is no transport, which often happens. We need to ensure that these SNAs are placed locally where the children are. They are entitled to receive support locally. Recognition was given to-----

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