Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

The Government is denying the constitutional right to an education to many children with special needs. One of those children is a gorgeous young boy from Monaghan called Sonny McElvaney. Sonny has made developmental progress beyond what was ever envisaged, primarily because of the efforts of parents. He should have started school a couple of weeks ago. However, Sonny needs a full-time SNA and one has not been allocated. The school that he attends already has one SNA but also has another student who needs a full-time allocation. Sonny's mother started engaging with the NCSE last November. No parent wants to acknowledge that their child needs full-time, one-on-one care. In this case, however, it is clear-cut. The occupational therapist that Sonny has dealt with has stated it. The school that he is to attend has stated it. The preschool where Sonny had a full-time SNA has stated it. All the reports from every professional who has ever met Sonny state that he cannot attend school without a full-time SNA.

If this case is anything to go by, the NCSE is dysfunctional. I have been engaging with it directly on this case since June. This morning, for the third time, I received a response which states that schools are expected to redeploy their current SNA allocation to students with the greatest level of need. In other words, for Sonny to get his entitlement, another child has to be denied theirs. That is scandalous. That is what is happening under the NCSE.

What the Minister of State read out tonight is essentially a speech that has been delivered by the NCSE, the very institution that is failing these children. It is failing to recognise what every other person who is dealing with these children recognises, namely that they need support. Those schools are ready to welcome children like Sonny but they need the Minister of State to grab the NCSE by the scruff of the neck and ensure that these children, who are being failed by it and by the Minister of State, get what they are entitled to.

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