Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin (Wicklow-Wexford, Sinn Fein)

As someone who was in my 35th year of primary teaching when I finished up in December, having taught in the area of special education for most of the past decade, it is an area that I am quite familiar with. A shockingly high figure is that of 2,314 children still waiting for an assessment of need in the Wicklow-Kildare HSE area, which is the highest number outside of Dublin. A smaller but significant number are languishing on waiting lists in County Wexford, awaiting an assessment.

Like other Deputies, I could mention numerous case studies, but have just two minutes, so I will briefly mention two cases. One is a Gorey parent, Kellie Nolan, who contacted me, stating that her ten-year-old son, Finn, has been waiting for seven years for an assessment of need and supports, so basically has had no supports since preschool, which is mindboggling. He had a private ASD assessment and has been waiting for years for a communication device, as it is the only way for him to communicate with his parents. This is shocking. I could speak of equally shocking stories from County Wicklow, where a Carnew mother fears for the mental health of her son, who is staying in his room due to a very frustrated younger brother, who is lashing out at him, harming him and harming himself, so much that she has had to send the older brother to their grandparents, who are over an hour's drive away. This is heartbreaking for the parents concerned.

Under the Disability Act 2005, children are entitled to an assessment of need within six months. However, 15,296 children are overdue their assessment of need. Worryingly, the HSE anticipates that this will only get worse and expects that by the end of this year, there could be as many as 24,796 assessments of need due for completion. This is not good enough. The Government is failing to implement the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004, and is therefore breaking the law. We in Sinn Féin will continue to fight until it is sorted and children get the services and supports that they are legally entitled to access and deserve. I call on the Government to support Sinn Féin's motion this evening.

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