Richard O'Donoghue (Limerick County, Independent Ireland Party)

I have just spent two long days at the ploughing championships with Independent Ireland. We have had people of all ages and from all walks of life with different problems coming into the tent to talk to us about concerns they have and looking for support. We had people with children with special needs come into us and ask us what had gone wrong and what they could do to help. Why are the resources not being put in place? Why are the Departments with responsibility for disabilities, education and health not talking to one another to see how they can sort problems? People said that if they wanted something, they went to one Department, which would then ask them to go to another Department to get assessments to try to get places for children. If they got the assessments done, they were told that the Department was sorry, but it had no place for them.

With the Minister of State's own family background, I know that he is the right person for the job. I know he understands the concerns. Knowing all this, I need him to kick for touch and make sure that a difference is made and these three Departments talk to one another so that we deliver for people in Ireland and ensure that the most vulnerable have an equal opportunity to education as their siblings, neighbours or friends.

This Sunday - I hope to see the Minister of State there - there will be a fundraiser for Holy Family Special School in Charleville. The Minister of State knows that, being from that area himself. There is a fundraiser going on for a school that looks after special needs in Charleville, County Cork, in the Minister of State's constituency. It is based behind St. Joseph's Foundation, which is another fantastic organisation that looks after children and adults with special needs. The school has to go out and fundraise for additional resources, and it has come to me. There is a motorbike run on, and I am going to have to try to stay on the motorbike to help the school raise money and raise awareness. I have no problem doing that. Last Sunday, I was in Meanus in County Limerick with Greybridge Classic Club raising funds, again, for this same school in County Cork because we had people from the area who wanted support. These people are asking the people of Ireland, through our vintage clubs, motorcycle clubs and whatever means they can, to fundraise for children with special needs to help them get an education the same as their siblings and friends'. They have got to do that, which we have no problem helping. There is a massive shortage of funding.

I said this at the start, and I say it with all sincerity: I believe the Minister of State is the right person for the job, and I look forward to working with him. I look forward to pushing the boundaries within his Department and the Departments of education and health to make sure we can deliver for those children equal opportunities to equal education and also support the families that have been trying to home school to give their children what they need and help them.

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