Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)

I am sure the Minister of State is aware of the Department's plan to redesignate special schools so they no longer cater for children and students with mild learning disabilities. This will apply to approximately 30 schools across the country. I understand, in part, the rationale behind it. The Minister wants an inclusive model of education where children with mild learning disabilities can go to a mainstream school, and that will free up places in special schools for children with more complex needs. However, as is often the case with policies, there are unintended consequences and when you look on the ground, you see the policy does not fit and is not the right policy.

I bring the Minister of State's attention to a school in Bray in my constituency, New Court special school. It is a fabulous school. When you walk into it, there is a feeling of love, happiness and support. It has around 80 children, some with complex needs, but previously it primarily focused on children with mild learning disabilities. It provides a loving but individualised care and education model for the children. The children really thrived in that environment. Unfortunately, with these plans those children with mild learning disabilities will no longer be able to go to New Court and will have to go to their local mainstream school. Many of these children were in mainstream schools, could not thrive there and therefore ended up in New Court.

Also, I just do not think the one-size-fits-all model will work. I am worried for these children who find it difficult to keep up with the pace of a mainstream class. If they are put in to a mainstream school, are trying to keep up with their peers and are unable to do it, the stress, anxiety and not feeling part of the school will make life very difficult for them. Maybe it would work for some children but we need to look at the children's needs and ensure that we find a school environment that suits them and that there is choice for them and their families.

I know there are many children with complex needs who cannot get school places. That is a scandal we have seen happen year after year. However, we need to ensure those children are accommodated and children with mild learning disabilities are also accommodated and get special education if they require it. Rather than displacing one set of children with disabilities with another set of children with disabilities, we need to provide spaces for all these children in the settings best suited to them. The schools in my area have 1,000 students in them. I cannot imagine how difficult it would be for a child with a mild learning difficulty to go in and settle and fit into that kind of environment. It would be incredibly difficult. New Court is a school in my area so I am raising it but my colleague, Deputy Jen Cummins, has been raising the wider policy issue. I hope there is an opportunity for some flexibility in the policy.

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