Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)

I welcome the long overdue publication of this report. AsIAm has pointed out that it is worrying to see references to amending the Education Act, which could delay the action we need to see. All parents know, and the Government acknowledges in all its statements, how crucial timely intervention is, but for many it is not delivered.

I will take the opportunity to raise an important related issue. It was referenced already, so I will be interested to hear whether there is a response from the Minister of State. It is the proposed redesignation of mild general learning disability, MGLD, schools to focus on students with complex needs. One of those is Scoil Eoin in Crumlin, which many children from Tallaght attend. It seems to be a classic case of robbing Peter to pay Paul. It is the Government failing to provide adequate supports and then pitting children with different needs against one another in a battle for resources. By all accounts, the 30 MGLD schools are working well.

They are making a huge difference to the children who go to them and they should be left as they are but with additional resources provided as needed. There must be no question of forcing children out of these places and into mainstream schools in order to free up places for children with complex needs. One mother who wrote to me put it very well. She said: "It risks putting children like mine back into a system that already didn't work for them. Inclusion, when done without the proper supports, is not inclusion, it is just displacement."

PBP councillors and activists are working with the affected school communities to organise campaigns to oppose this Government's attacks on schools for children with MGLD. We demand an immediate pause on all redesignations and proper resourcing of all education so all children have access to school places appropriate to their needs in their local communities, as is their right under the UNCRPD.

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