David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)

Earlier this year, Deputy Conor McGuinness and I met with parents of children with disabilities from Waterford city and county. At the time, those parents were heartbroken because they had no idea if their child would have an appropriate class place. Many of them were sent on a wild goose chase, as they were told they had to contact schools themselves. In some instances, they had to contact 14, 15 and 16 schools only to be told each and every time they made a phone call that there was no special class and no place for their child. I arranged meetings with the local SENO and the National Council for Special Education. I was taken aback by the fact that they could not tell me how many children were waiting for special classes. They did not have the data. They could not tell me how many additional special classes were going to be put in place. They told me that it simply was not possible to provide special classes in some of the schools. I picked up the phone to school principals across Waterford city and county, as did Deputy McGuinness. Those same schools told us they could provide special classes, but they needed physical space and additional supports. I went back to the National Council for Special Education and the SENO and, lo and behold, the classes were eventually put in place within a couple of months. We had meetings with the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan. We had a Private Members' business debate here not so long ago when parents again came to the Public Gallery. Rebecca Meehan from Dungarvan in County Waterford was one of those campaigners, among many others.

The lack of joined-up thinking and planning right across the system was breathtaking. from the National Council for Special Education and the Department right down. That is an absolute failure. It is not fair on those children. We are here again with a motion because, while there were improvements in some areas and additional classes, some of the classes that were announced in Waterford city and county are not available as the additional physical space or resources were not made available. That infuriates the principals and teachers in those schools but also the parents.

We need a proper plan. It is not beyond us to fix this problem. We are here every year and every year we fall behind. As an Teachta O'Rourke said, more than 230 children are still waiting. It is going to get worse unless this Government and the Department get on top of it.

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