Dáil debates

Wednesday, 13 February 2008

Special Educational Needs: Motion (Resumed)

 

The following motion was moved by Deputy Brian Hayes on Tuesday, 12 February 2008:

That Dáil Éireann:

accepting that the current system of assessment for children with autism is inadequate;

noting the co-author of the report of the Government taskforce on autism has suggested the Department of Education and Science policy on education for autistic children is misguided;

considering that the lack of a suitable appeals process leaves parents with no option other than to pursue education services for their children through the courts;

acknowledging the Government's delay in implementing the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 — EPSEN — to provide appropriate education services for children with special needs;

noting the Government's refusal to change its policy to consider funding for new applied behavioural analysis, ABA, centres despite a clear demand for ABA services countrywide; and

considering the Government's failure to improve co-ordination between education and health services in supporting children with special needs despite promises in the programme for Government 2007 to do so;

calls on the Government to:

lay any evidence before the House which supports the suggestion that the current system of education provision for autistic children is suitable for all children, even those with moderate to severe autism who have been recommended one-to-one attention;

make specific education services available to autistic children where it has been recommended by psychologists, without delay;

introduce the outstanding provisions of the EPSEN Act 2004 according to the NCSE's proposed timescale for implementation;

commit to funding the existing 12 ABA centres in their current format;

expand the current ABA pilot scheme of 12 centres to accommodate other projects of a similar nature where they are needed;

recognise the qualifications of psychologists currently working in ABA centres;

honour its programme for Government commitment and institute an appeals system without further delay;

ensure speech and language therapy and behavioural therapy is made available to all schools with autistic children in attendance; and

immediately move to enhance co-operation between the Department of Education and Science and the Department of Health and Children to ensure children with special needs receive adequate support in all aspects of their lives from an early age.

Debate resumed on amendment No. 1:

To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following:

recognising that:

major improvements have been made in special education in recent years, underpinned by a doubling of investment since 2004 to €900 million this year and the provision of approximately 19,000 teachers and SNAs to work solely with children with special needs;

the number of special classes for children with autism has increased by 40% in the past year alone, with 277 classes now in place in mainstream and special schools around the country;

applied behavioural analysis is one of the interventions used in such classes, along with others that focus on the development of children's speech and communication skills;

the taskforce on autism recommended that a range of resources and approaches be made available to meet the unique needs of each student with an autistic spectrum disorder in all school settings;

the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 is being implemented on the phased basis provided for in the legislation so that teachers and schools will be well-prepared for the major developments that it encompasses;

the first Special Education Appeals Board has already been appointed in advance of the full implementation of the Act; and

improved co-ordination between the education and health sectors has been prioritised, with the appointment of a Minister of State with that specific responsibility and the establishment of a cross-sectoral team to co-ordinate the implementation of Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005 and the relevant sections of the EPSEN Act 2004;

appreciates that in any area of historic under-provision it takes time to bring services up to the optimum level and supports the Government's determination to:

improve access to assessments for children with special needs, as per the commitments in the Disability Act 2005 and the programme for Government;

expand preschool provision around the country to ensure early intervention;

continue to increase the number of special classes for children with autism;

continue to provide schools with the necessary supports so that each child with special needs can have an education that is tailored to their unique individual needs and abilities, with provision for a range of interventions — including PECS, ABA and TEACCH — for children with autism;

deliver on the commitment in the programme for Government to "commit to long-term funding for the 12 centres that are currently in the ABA pilot scheme subject to agreement with the Department of Education and Science on standards that will enable the Department to support them as primary schools for children with autism";

continue the work of putting in place the necessary processes to enable the full implementation of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004 by October 2010 as set out in the legislation;

develop special schools as centres of excellence and outreach facilities and allow for dual enrolment so that children can attend both a special school and a mainstream school as appropriate;

continue to improve second level provision for children with special needs;

improve access to speech and language and occupational therapy; and

provide parents, through the Special Education Appeals Board, with a right of recourse to an independent appeals process.

—(Minister for Education and Science).

7:00 pm

Photo of Liz McManusLiz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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I wish to share time with Deputies Joan Burton and Ciarán Lynch.

I make a special plea for Barnacoyle school in my constituency. Interim measures were urgently needed for that school, in terms of sanction for primary, preschool and post-primary classes and training grants for special needs assistants. I urge the Minister to ensure this school is provided with the interim measures needed. It also needs to be included in negotiations between the Irish Autism Action and the 12 pilot schools.

This issue goes to the core of the values of our society. It is about cherishing children equally, giving the family special status and the universal right to education and the protection of the most vulnerable. Government Members in Fianna Fáil and the Green Party have tried to imply that this debate is a publicity stunt. It received publicity, and rightly so, but the debate is much more important. It is about changing public policy. This motion is a challenge to the reality faced by many parents waiting months or years for assessments for their children, and forced to go to the courts because no appeals system is up and running.

I pay tribute to Yvonne and Cian Ó Cuanacháin, who were hammered over and over by the State, using our money, to stop a little boy getting the schooling his parents know is best for him. It is about a Fianna Fáil Minister who is ignorant to the point of pigheadedness. It is about promises made by the Green Party that it betrayed as soon as the election was over.

I have met the families of children in County Wicklow, brave honourable people who deserve every support we can give. They know that applied behavioural analysis, ABA, is suitable for their children and that, for some, ABA will enable the child to make it to a mainstream school. Yet, the Minister for Education and Science has not even visited an ABA school. She is "grossly misguided" on applied behavioural analysis policy, she has failed to educate herself on educational interventions and she "makes very basic errors when referring to Applied Behavioural Analysis". These are the words of the co-author of the taskforce report on autism, Dr. Rita Honan.

Interestingly, neither the Minister nor the Department has published evidence against ABA. The Government's resistance to ABA appears to arise from vindictiveness and penny pinching. If there is evidence, let us have it. At the moment, there is a contradictory policy whereby 12 schools are sanctioned and those outside will not be.

Parents are trying to cope with many problems in their family setting. Children with autism are locked in to their world and have a range of difficulties. In many cases, ABA can unlock them from the prison. We must ensure that the possibilities are available to parents and children. Instead the Government has slammed the door on these children.

Many Members were e-mailed by a parent. She asked us what we would do if it was one of our children. The answer is very simple and we know what we would do. In a country as rich as Ireland, children should be given the best chance in their childhood.

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I hope the debate and coverage of the past 24 hours has opened the hearts and minds of the Deputies of various parties on the Government benches. Sympathy for parents coping with children with various levels of autism spectrum difficulties is not enough. Government Deputies must mark their concern by forcing action and a response from the Minister for Education and Science.

It is obvious that for some children the most appropriate education is the ABA method. The Minister has stuck her head in the sand and is in denial, possibly for financial reasons or possibly out of blind pride and a refusal to acknowledge that she and her Department are wrong. She must face up to the reality that the special insights offered by the ABA method are particularly appropriate to a significant number of children with autism. Every parent knows what is best and what works for his or her child. I hope this debate will enable parents to access targeted and enhanced services for the specific needs of their children.

In Castleknock, Dublin 15, there is a magnificent wing lying idle for the past year and a half to support children with autism in Castleknock Educate Together. The school and the community are anxious for this to open but it cannot because of an ongoing dispute between the Minister for Education and Science and the Minister for Health and Children on how resources should be allocated to provide the range of services required by the children. It is absolutely appalling to find that the school at Beechpark will not participate because the HSE and the Department of Health and Children cannot mediate with the Department of Education and Science.

Like many people during the last general election, I met parents and grandparents who were concerned about the future of their children and grandchildren. In Dublin West, there is no dedicated facility for ABA. Instead, children are ferried and taxied long distances to services. In the context of traffic in the Dublin region, very young children are faced with two and a half hour to four and a half hour commutes. One child travels from Clonsilla, Dublin 15, to the Croke Park area and on to the special school service in Tallaght. Even an adult would find that trip difficult and although reports refer to how well Ireland has done, we are unable to address this situation. I congratulate Fine Gael on this motion and hope it will open hearts and minds — not just sympathy — so that Government Members do the right thing by supporting it.

Photo of Ciarán LynchCiarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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I congratulate Deputy Hayes on this motion. Sometimes one must revert to the origin in examining a problem. The day a parent learns that a child is autistic is a day the parent learns that life will be full of challenges. These challenges should not be met by obstacles placed by Government, as seen in recent court cases. How much money has the Minister spent on legal fees challenging parents when that money could resolve the ABA issue and other matters?

Photo of Brian HayesBrian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Hear, hear.

Photo of Ciarán LynchCiarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Last night, the Minister referred to a complete transformation in the area. She referred to catching up over the past decade because we started from such a low base. The reason is not because of Government policy or initiative, but because parents have taken the Government to court. As a result of positive action and rulings by judges, we have seen measures forced upon the Government.

The Minister must ask a number of questions. I invite the Minister to answer my question in her conclusion to this debate. How does she intend to deal with post-primary education for autistic children? There is a difficulty in the primary sector but no provision is made for secondary schools. I wrote to the Minister about an individual in my constituency of Cork South-Central last September where, in effect, the young boy in question was sent from Billy to Jack. He was sent to three different schools in the city but the Minister would not intervene because she did not have a solution.

The Minister should examine and recognise staff who work in the system who are not mainstream school teachers but who have developed significant expertise in recent years where no professional recognition has been given by her Department. Otherwise, massive slippage will occur. These people need job security and proper, professional recognition for the job they do so well.

Dr. Fitzgerald is an extremely gifted man who has worldwide recognition for his diagnoses but he is not recognised by the Department of Education and Science. A child of two years for whom Dr. Fitzgerald made an extensive diagnosis was not seen until he was six years of age by the State when he was already two years in the mainstream primary education system. That is unacceptable. We should set out a targeted needs-based programmed approach for children.

Reference has been made to CABAS in Cork and my colleagues spoke about the ABA model. When will these approaches be mainstreamed?

My party colleague, Deputy Quinn, stated last night that the Minister is taking a one-size-fits-all approach to this issue. We know that is not working. If it was working we would not have people taking court cases and a packed Gallery. It is time we stopped taking the legal route to redress the problem. What we need is for this House to take responsibility for the area, not the courts.

Photo of Jimmy DevinsJimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to share time with Deputies Margaret Conlon, Peter Power, Paul Gogarty, Áine Brady, Finian McGrath and Mary O'Rourke.

Photo of Brendan HowlinBrendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Is that agreed? Agreed.

Photo of Jimmy DevinsJimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the opportunity that this debate provides for me and my colleagues in the Department of Education and Science to put on the record the efforts that have been and are being made to improve the situation of children with special needs, including those with autism. I wish to outline for the House the changes to co-ordination and strengthening of existing measures that have been put in place since the formation of the new Government.

I was honoured to be appointed by the Taoiseach to the position of Minister of State at four Departments and to be given the assignment and responsibility for disability services. I have responsibility for the oversight of the Government's national disability strategy, including the six departmental sectoral plans and the co-ordination of the implementation of the Disability Act and the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004. This cross-departmental assignment reflects the Government's commitment to the mainstreaming agenda. There are issues that are of particular relevance to people with disabilities which require a cross-departmental response. I agree with what Deputy Barrett said last night in the debate in this regard.

The designation of a Minister of State with responsibility for disabilities and the recent establishment of an office for disability, which I will deal with later, will facilitate cross-departmental working in areas of mutual responsibility and concern. The overall vision is to put in place structures which will provide for a greater cohesion than currently exists in the supporting disability structures across the public service.

The Government's overall objective is to put in place the most effective combination of legislation, policies, institutional arrangements and services to support and reinforce equal participation for people with disabilities, including those with autism. The national disability strategy was launched in 2004. Since then, a number of major strategic developments have been introduced, the first of which was the publication of the Disability Act 2005 and the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004. The Disability Act 2005 provides for a comprehensive framework for the delivery of services to people with disabilities. It provides, for the first time, a statutory right to an assessment of individual need.

Photo of Ulick BurkeUlick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Which is not being given.

Photo of Jimmy DevinsJimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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It is being given. Second was the publication of the six sectoral plans that outline how Departments are to provide for the implementation of the provisions of the Disability Act. Third is the multi-annual investment programme that provides €900 million from 2006 to 2009, which was announced in the budget in 2005. The Act is underpinned by this multi-annual investment programme. It is building the additional capacity required to put in place the framework set out in the Disability Act. As part of the multi-annual investment programme under the disability strategy, the Government provided the Health Service Executive with an additional €75 million in both 2006 and 2007. This funding included moneys to provide new and enhanced services for people with disabilities, including those with autism, and to implement Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005, which came into effect on 1 June 2007 for children aged under five.

The Government is also honouring its promise on the multi-annual investment programme for people with disabilities, with a further €50 million investment which was announced in the 2008 budget. It is estimated that over €1.7 billion is spent on health and personal social services for people with disabilities.

I wish to give some information to the House on some of the services that this huge investment is providing. Currently, 8,800 people with a disability receive care in residential places. The national intellectual disability database annual report for 2007 stated that more people live in group homes within their communities than in residential centres. A total of 7,200 residential places provide respite care for people with a disability and approximately 30,000 people attend day services. The national intellectual disability database annual report for 2007 states that 97% of the people registered with the database are in receipt of a service.

Photo of Terence FlanaganTerence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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How many are left off it?

Photo of Jimmy DevinsJimmy Devins (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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The report goes on to say that there has been significant growth in the level of provision of services to people with an intellectual disability, which reflects the investment programme.

The additional investment in the health services in recent years has resulted in an increase in the number of physiotherapists, speech and language therapists and occupational therapists, by 1,988 since 1997, which is an increase of 171%. The number of psychologists working in the health service has increased by 392, which represents an increase of 131% in numbers employed.

Recognition by the Government of the importance of implementing the national disability strategy is highlighted by the commitments outlined in the social partnership agreement Towards 2016 and in the programme for Government. Despite the substantial increase in services for people with a disability, including residential and day places and multidisciplinary support services, the Government acknowledges the significant demand for new services and a growing requirement to enhance existing services. We are committed to continuing the significant financial investment in supports for people with disabilities.

The health sectoral plan outlines proposals for the implementation of the Disability Act. A review of that plan has just been completed in my Department. In particular, it provides for the implementation of Part 2 of the Disability Act and the cross-departmental and cross-sectoral issues concerning people with disabilities and mental health, such as housing, income support and vocational training and employment are also addressed. Part 2 of the Disability Act provides people with a disability with an entitlement to an independent assessment of needs; a statement of the services which it is proposed to provide; to pursue a complaint and, if necessary; to make an appeal to the independent disability appeals officer.

In particular, Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005 was commenced for children under five years on 1 June 2007. I understand that, to date, over 1,200 applications for assessment have been received by the Health Service Executive and approximately 100 assessments have been successfully completed.

Children in the age category of five to 18 years will be catered for with the implementation of EPSEN in tandem with the Disability Act by no later that 2011. A critical element of the co-ordination structure has been the establishment of a cross-sectoral team which helped to ensure that arrangements for the implementation of Part 2 of the Act were progressed. I am pleased to inform the House that I attended a meeting of this team and I assure Members of the commitment of all involved. This team which consists of officials from the Department of Health and Children, the Department of Education and Science, the Health Service Executive and the National Council for Special Education has responsibility for the co-ordinated implementation of Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005 and the relevant sections of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004, when it commences.

I assure the House that we are committed to the full implementation of the Disability Act 2005 and I am determined to ensure that the necessary resources to allow this happen are provided.

I will refer briefly to the Office for Disability and Mental Health. The fundamental idea of this new office is to get all Departments working together in a structured approach to the delivery of services. My key goal is to work hard to improve the life of anyone in Ireland with a disability. I can do this by actively driving measures to ensure effective co-operation across the relevant Departments and agencies.

This office will be built around the existing units dealing with disability. The administrative head of the new office is a senior manager in the Department of Health and Children. She will attend senior management meetings in other Departments, including the Department of Education and Science, where issues relating to disability are on the agenda.

In addition, I will hold quarterly meetings with the four Secretaries General of the Departments to which I have been appointed and the director of the new office. Formal arrangements will be developed to improve linkages between the new office and the Departments of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Education and Science, and Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

The office for disability will also focus on supporting the implementation of the health sectoral plan under the Disability Act 2005. It will, in particular, facilitate the delivery of integrated health and education support services for children with special needs.

The existing co-ordination arrangements between the Departments of Health and Children and Education and Science on interaction between Part 2 of the Disability Act 2005 and the Education for Persons with Special Education Needs Act 2004 will continue to operate to the benefit of people with disabilities, including those with autism. Through these formal interdepartmental links, the office for disability will ensure and oversee an integrated whole-of-government approach and implementation of joined-up policy. The establishment of the office is another step in this process. The ultimate aim is to provide people with a disability with an opportunity to live a full life and to participate full in society. I support the amendment.

Photo of Ulick BurkeUlick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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What about the motion?

Photo of Margaret ConlonMargaret Conlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Leas-Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to address this motion. For many years I was a teacher and during that period I witnessed and worked through years of neglect of students with special needs. In many cases, students who were unique but different were ignored. Thankfully, in 2008, vast improvements have taken place and more are coming. We have transformed the provision of educational opportunities for children with special needs.

As a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Science, I visited two schools last month where I witnessed first-hand how the Government is laying the foundations throughout the country for improving education for children with special needs. It was unfortunate that no member of the Opposition visited the schools with us for what was for me a valuable learning experience.

Photo of Brian HayesBrian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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We were there ahead of Deputy Conlon.

Photo of Margaret ConlonMargaret Conlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The children in these classes have access to a programme of work that is geared to their individual needs and adapted if necessary if it is found not to be best suited to their needs. They are able to attend mainstream classes when it is in line with their abilities. These schools enable and foster social integration, and the pupils integrate well with their peers. The staff were supportive and enthusiastic about the variety of methodologies used and I firmly believe and will argue with anyone that all children have a right to be taught by qualified teachers. Having information and numerous skills is vitally important, but one must possess the ability to impart knowledge to be the most effective teacher one can be.

From my visit it was obvious that these children were being given the opportunity to be the best they could possibly be. Their education was nurtured in an environment conducive to learning and they were able to develop a sense of independence, which was evident when they played their tin whistles as a group and individually.

In my parish, we received sanction for an autistic unit alongside a mainstream school last year. Two boys are attending the pre-school and accessing a range of methods so that their needs can be met. TEACCH, PECS, and ABA are used — the Department supports the use of ABA. However, based on research, evidence and best practice, ABA should not be the only method used.

The reality is that children with autism suffer on the whole spectrum of needs. Some children are capable of being fully integrated into mainstream classes, while some need additional teaching or assistance and others need a special class specifically for autistic children. Early intervention is vital and they deserve to be taught by qualified teachers.

It is insensitive and shameful for the integration of children with special needs into mainstream schools to be termed a "social experiment". Most parents prefer their children to attend mainstream or special classes in local schools and the Government has worked hard to support this choice. We are developing special schools as centres of excellence and outreach facilities and allowing for dual enrolment so that children can attend a special school and a mainstream school, as appropriate.

Inclusion is not unique to Ireland. The Individuals with Disabilities Act in the USA requires that, to the maximum extent, students with disabilities be placed in the least restrictive environment where they are educated alongside their peers. Who are we to disagree with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities? It requests states to ensure that persons with disabilities are not excluded from the general education system on the basis of their disabilities and in 2008 people with disabilities can access an inclusive, quality and free primary and secondary education on an equal basis with others in the communities in which they live. Surely all our children deserve that.

Photo of Terence FlanaganTerence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Perhaps Deputy Conlon will vote with us tonight.

Photo of Brendan HowlinBrendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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There is a long list of speakers and if one eats into anybody's time, somebody will be knocked out at the end.

Photo of Peter PowerPeter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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I thank my colleagues for sharing the limited time.

Any discussion involving the educational needs of children can be emotive and any debate involving the education of children with special educational needs, especially those with autism, is particularly emotive. As a public representative and as a parent, I recognise and acknowledge the determination of all parents to do what is best by their children, many of whom are represented here tonight in the Gallery.

In this debate there should be no absolutes. Nobody is absolutely right and nobody is absolutely wrong——

Photo of Brian HayesBrian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Hear, hear.

Photo of Peter PowerPeter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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——especially in the face of complex, often conflicting, expert opinion. I am not an expert in this area. Most Members of the House are not experts. I have heard experts differ significantly on what is the appropriate response of Government and the Department on this issue, and we should recognise that nobody has a monopoly of wisdom on this issue.

The experts agree, however, that the demarcation lines between educational services for those with special educational needs and those with a varying degree of autistic spectrum disorder are blurred. It follows, therefore, that improvements in the services available for children with autism can only be looked at in the context of the enormous improvements that have been made in services available to children with special educational needs over the past ten years. It would be churlish not to acknowledge that fact. Unfortunately, that was not acknowledged last night.

The essential question in this debate should be whether we have a framework throughout the education and health services which can accommodate flexibly the changing developmental needs of children on the one hand with the diverse and emerging scientific and expert research developments on the other, coupled — most importantly — with an ongoing commitment to additional resources.

Notwithstanding that, most Members of this House support the conclusions of the taskforce on autism, which reviewed all the available evidence and concluded that there is no definitive evidence that supported one approach as better than all others or which supports a single approach for all aspects of development.

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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We are not saying that.

Photo of Joan BurtonJoan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Nobody said that.

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Stop distorting the motion.

Photo of Peter PowerPeter Power (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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In this regard, I am delighted with the announcement this week that Rehab in Limerick has received special recognition from the Department of Education and Science to proceed with the development of a new pre-school and primary school for children with autism. The new school in Limerick will adopt a range of innovative methodologies and interventions used to promote the maximum learning potential of each child, including TEACCH, PECS, ABA, NEBS and positive behaviour supports.

For me, the future in this area is ensuring a holistic approach by not only concentrating on the education of the child, but also on other areas such as independent living, social and leisure skills, play skills, communication skills and self care. It is not all about one issue here. Last night, I found the rather crude attempt by some speakers to characterise anybody who came to this debate in good faith as somehow being anti-children if their view differed regrettable. Some people hold opposing views. It does not mean they are absolutely right or that they are absolutely wrong.

Photo of Paul GogartyPaul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate. Given the limited time available, I would like to focus on just a couple of issues. It is important to reiterate that since 2004, investment in special education has doubled to €900 million, 6,000 additional special education staff have been put in place and training for teachers has been dramatically improved. As the Minister for Education and Science has stated, the provisions of the Education for People with Special Educational Needs Act are being phased in and will, hopefully, be fully implemented by 2010.

This is a significant achievement, notwithstanding valid concerns expressed in recent years about the exact wording of the legislation and the timeframe for implementation. It is also important to point out that in managing the roll-out of special education provision in the field of autism, the Minister and her predecessors have been advised by the findings and recommendations of the task force on autism as well as other reports. That report states that there is no definitive evidence supporting one approach as being better than others for all children with ASDs or supporting a single approach for all aspects of development; nor is there evidence by which children can be matched to particular approaches.

This is what has led to the current policy favouring the eclectic approach over ABA, for example. However, there continues to be a clear disagreement about the benefits of ABA versus the eclectic model. ABA proponents cite many international studies which point to this methodology working far better for certain types of children with autism spectrum disorders. However, the task force report, the Northern Ireland task force report and the Magiati, Charman and Howlin report, referred to by the Minister, would say otherwise and that it is not good to focus on one particular intervention.

The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Science has visited a number of facilities, ABA and State facilities, and both approaches seem to have their success stories. From the admittedly limited visit of the committee, it found the State-run units in primary schools were working successfully as integrated units. We also found much of merit within the ABA school in Drogheda. It was telling that when I asked where children who were not deemed suitable for the unit in the State school were sent, one of the places a child was referred to was an ABA school. That was, therefore, a sort of unofficial recognition that ABA suits children with specific requirements.

I am delighted that the programme for Government has negotiated long-term funding for 12 ABA schools. More needs to be done over the next few years and these schools will have to fit into the system. They can do that as centres of excellence focusing on ABA as part of an overall multifaceted approach. I hope the ongoing negotiations succeed in that regard.

There is a need to have a closer look at where we are going. It is now seven years since the task force on autism reported. International studies have been carried out since and they need to be reviewed and analysed. There is also an urgent requirement to look at the outcomes for the various methodologies and to compare them with children with various degrees of autism.

In summary, while Government policy follows a particular path on the basis of best information available, new information is always evolving. I look forward, as Chair of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Science, to taking some of this new information on board and reviewing the autism report in due course.

Photo of Áine BradyÁine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the opportunity to contribute this evening to the debate on services for children with special needs, in particular educational services for children diagnosed with autism. I acknowledge the work of all those involved to date and outline some ideas for further development and improvement in services for children with autism. As a former special needs teacher in Celbridge, I have witnessed at first hand the dramatic improvements that have taken place in the area of special needs. Parents of children with autism have, rightly, more choices now. Their children can attend special classes in mainstream schools, attend a mainstream class with additional support or attend a special school.

This progress would not have been achieved without the commitment of Government to funding and, more significantly, the huge dedication and commitment of parents of children with autism. I fully appreciate the sacrifices many parents make, of which I am aware not only from my teaching career but also from meeting parents in my constituency, particularly those involved in the Saplings school in Kill. They must take some comfort that all their hard work has led to significant policy changes, bringing improvements to the lives of their children.

It is recognised that early intervention is critical to ensuring that children with autism get the most appropriate services. I welcome the opening last year of a pre-school autistic unit attached to the Derrinturn primary school, one of 23 autism specific pre-schools established nationally. I welcome the Minister's commitment in her speech last night to the expansion of the pre-school network for autism. Services for school-age children with autism have moved from a very limited provision a few years ago to a position now where there are 3,600 children in special classes in mainstream or in special schools.

As with many other challenges we face, a partnership approach offers the best opportunity to develop a set of policies which will maximise the benefit for children with autism. We have already seen the benefits of this approach with the achievements to date, in particular with ABA schools. For instance, I am aware from my contact with the Saplings ABA school in Kill that, where appropriate, children are eased into mainstream schools. The co-operation, back-up and follow-up is comprehensive between educators in both schools.

I believe that teachers should be appointed to ABA schools. Working in tandem with ABA tutors, teachers and tutors will bring the necessary set of skills to enable a smooth transition between special schools and mainstream schools. Likewise, ABA tutors are in an ideal position to give practical support to teachers in mainstream schools. This sharing of knowledge and expertise is a key enabler to ensure that we offer the best level of service to our special children. While it is now recognised that ABA is not the only teaching method for children with autism, it is an important method of intervention and should be available to children with autism in all settings.

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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I welcome this important debate on special needs education, particularly for children with autism. I commend the parents and families of these children on their work, commitment and courage in this regard. As a parent of a daughter with an intellectual disability, I will continue to push and fight for the development of educational services and will do my best, both in the Dáil with the Minister and in the broader community, to ensure delivery of a top-class quality service for all children with special needs and all children with a disability.

All good teachers and parents know that from the start each child is unique. Each child is special and individual. We must recognise uniqueness. This, for me, must be the anchor of our education system. I speak as a parent and as a former primary school teacher. When I looked at ABA, talked to parents, looked at particular schools and listened to objective professionals, I found ABA to be child-centred, inclusive, multi-element intervention and a great option. Let us remember, we are all learning on this issue and we must be open to new ideas that work.

This is not to say that other methods, strategies and classroom situations do not work. They do. All we need to do is open our minds and develop the 12 existing ABA centres and fund further ABA projects. I will work on this strategy both publicly and privately with the Minister for Education and Science. In fairness to the Minister, she has made great efforts at pushing special education in the past six years. She has always given priority to special education and disadvantage and I commend her for that.

The recent budget, which was part of my agreement with the Taoiseach, gave an extra €15 million to disability services and an extra €18 million for special educational needs, despite the downturn in the economy and the clamour for more restrictions on public spending. This is the battle many of us fight each day and tonight's debate is part of that battle. We must all take a serious look at the real issues. We need to do our best to support families and their special needs children. We must also be straight with them.

With regard to autism, I support a broad range of methods, including ABA. I commend all those working in the area, particularly in my constituency. Scoil na mBráthar in Fairview has two autism classes. Scoil Chiaráin, Collins Avenue, Donnycarney, also has two autism classes, as does Our Lady of Consolation, Collins Avenue. At second level, St. David's in Artane has one autism class. These services exist in my constituency and I will continue to fight for their development. We must also support families who want to send or are sending their children to ABA schools. I support that right and that choice.

I said earlier that special education was part of my deal with the Taoiseach. Some of that deal has been rolled out and I welcome that. We all need to do our best to push and develop services for all children with special needs.

Photo of Mary O'RourkeMary O'Rourke (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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I am glad to have the opportunity to contribute to this debate and to explain what I know about ABA. I am a patron of Saplings school in Mullingar, having opened that school with the co-founders three years ago. ABA works for young people, but it is part of a total range of provision for children with special needs. I have seen ABA at first hand and I know it enables children to learn because it is a behavioural system that works on a one-to-one basis. That child learns how to learn, behave, have social skills and become a child with potential and a future. I thank my colleagues for allowing me to speak for one or two minutes. Whatever lingering animosity there is within the Department of Education and Science should be removed forthwith and the provision of ABA should become an essential feature of the spectrum of provisions for children with special needs, as it is already becoming.

Deputies:

Hear, hear.

Photo of Mary O'RourkeMary O'Rourke (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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Every mother and father wants the best for their child and if there is any way that can be given it can be done through ABA beginning at a young age, between the ages of two and three in the preschools Deputy Áine Brady mentioned. There is a lingering animosity and blockage at some level in the Department of Education and Science against the full provision of ABA.

Deputies:

Hear, hear.

Photo of Emmet StaggEmmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Deputy O'Rourke should tell the Minister.

Photo of Brendan HowlinBrendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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As there is limited time for this debate I ask those in the Visitors Gallery to allow the views of the House to be expressed without interruption.

Photo of Mary O'RourkeMary O'Rourke (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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As Deputy McGrath said, we learn daily about the new developments and how children respond in difficult situations. I wish we could have an open approach to more provision of ABA.

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I would like to share my time with Deputies Bannon, Neville, McHugh, Terence Flanagan, Coveney, Deenihan, Sheahan and O'Donnell. We will win this motion because we have the support of all the Fianna Fáil backbenchers, the Green Party and Deputy Finian McGrath.

Photo of Paul GogartyPaul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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On a point of order——

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Gogarty should sit down. When the Government did not have enough Ministries, it created new ones. When it could not satisfy the backbenchers it created new committees, Chairmen and convenors. The people in the Visitors Gallery do not want to be here tonight but they are here for their children. The Government should resolve these people's problem. They do not want to be here. They want to be at home with their children and they want their children taught in proper schools. They want ABA and we want it for them.

Deputies:

Hear, hear.

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I am sorry I have a sore throat because I get angry when parents from my constituency have to go to court to get rights for their children. We have enough tribunals in this country and parents should not have to put their homes, families and livelihoods at stake to have their children educated. It is a disgrace. When the Government wants to change policy it can do it.

Deputy Devins said he is a Minister of State at four or five Departments. How can he have responsibility for disability when he works across every Department? There should be one Minister to deal with disability and he or she should have total responsibility and not be dependent on his colleagues.

I call on Fianna Fáil backbenchers and Green Party and Independent Deputies to support this motion. By doing so they will support the parents in the Visitors Gallery and their children, and will do a good job for the country. These people deserve to be supported. All they ask is a small amount of help and a right for their children for the future. That is not too much to ask of Fianna Fáil, the Green Party or the Progressive Democrats.

Photo of Brendan HowlinBrendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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People in the Visitors Gallery have strong views on this but this is a House of Parliament and I ask them to allow Members to make their contributions without interruption.

Photo of James BannonJames Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I compliment Deputy Brian Hayes on tabling this motion and on his efforts in bringing this Government to account for the dreadful way it is treating the weakest members of our society, particularly children with autism. The last time we debated this issue I expressed my concerns on what is happening in the midlands and today we debate the tragedy of what is happening between several Departments and the courts where parents, who give so much of their time to improving the lot of their children, have to go to court to fight for their children's rights. Despite what has happened it is important we keep the pressure on the Government to improve services for those with autism. Everyone on this side of the House feels this arrogant Government has let down the nation on services and facilities to help families who have a child suffering from autism. It is important the Ministers for Education and Science and Health and Children put proper facilities in place. It is unfortunate that parents have to take cases to court, protest outside this House and lose their homes to keep simple respite services and demand the help they need.

Several reports have been published containing many recommendations, but few of these recommendations that would improve provisions for children with autism and their parents have been implemented. Under the Minister's watch there have been great weaknesses in the delivery of special education services. There are limited ABA centres throughout the country and it is the Minister's policy to restrict the funding available for these centres despite demands for this type of tuition. Parents are frustrated continually by the service delays in assessment of autistic children, which further restrict such children from progressing. There are significant waiting lists for occupational, speech and language therapy and there is little co-ordination between the Minister's Department and the Department of Health and Children in providing such services.

It is evident from recent statements from the Minister, Deputy Hanafin, and the Taoiseach that neither has a full understanding of the debate. Their attitudes, inaccuracies and mistakes are outrageous. If such ignorance of the issue is displayed by them it raises the suspicion that most Members of this woefully corrupt dictatorship are equally misinformed, including the withering Greens. Parents must be provided with suitable services and choices for their children.

We regret the manner in which the Minister, Deputy Hanafin, has bullied parents and children with autism. There is no system of appeal for parents other than seeking their children's rights to educational services through the courts, as the recent case proved. The Minister prefers dragging parents through the courts to providing the necessary services. It is interesting to note that the author of a Government task force report on autism described the Government's policy on autism as grossly misguided and out of touch with reality. This is a dreadful indictment of this Government.

I plead with the Government at this late stage to abandon the dreadful cold heart of stone of the Minister, Deputy Hanafin, and show some solidarity with parents and children with autism. Nothing is permanent but change and I urge the Minister to show respect and a thought for children with autism by supporting the Fine Gael motion so that we might all begin to improve the lives of all children suffering from autism.

Photo of Brendan HowlinBrendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I remind Deputies that if they exceed their time somebody's speaking time at the end will be squeezed.

Photo of Dan NevilleDan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the opportunity to speak to Deputy Hayes's motion and congratulate him on bringing it forward. Childhood and adolescent psychiatric services account for 5% to 10% of spending on mental health services while serving 23% of the population. This underinvestment has resulted in a child and adolescent service which is at best sporadic and at worst non-existent. Autism is not a mental illness but a condition, but I want to raise an issue on mental illness. People with autism or Asperger's syndrome are especially vulnerable to secondary mental health problems, particularly anxiety and depression, especially in late adolescence and early adult life.

However, problems with communicating feelings and impairment of non-verbal expression can mean that mental illness in people with autism spectrum disorders is often well developed before it is recognised, with possible consequences such as total withdrawal, obsessive behaviour, aggression and threatened, attempted or actual suicide. Any suicide prevention strategy for people with autism spectrum disorders must focus on the promotion of mental health well being rather than seeking simply to restrict potentially suicidal behaviour. Experts in the field have highlighted the striking lack of systematic, scientific research on suicide, suicide rates and the prediction of suicide in those with autism and Asperger's syndrome.

In 2001, the National Autistic Society of the UK published a major report on the life experiences of adults with autism spectrum disorders. Of the report's sample, 32% had experienced mental health problems and of these, 56% had suffered with depression while 8% had felt suicidal or had attempted suicide. Evidence from practitioners supports this pattern of suicidal impulses in people with autism spectrum disorders. A sample of 27 patients assessed at the autism research centre in Cambridge University found that 14 had felt suicidal and four had either planned or attempted suicide, which is way above the national average.

For people with autism spectrum disorders, a first step to mental well being is prompt and accurate diagnosis. It is recognised that the stage from birth to five years of age is critical in the promotion of mental health well being. This is greatly assisted for people with autism spectrum disorders if correct diagnosis is made early. However, to prevent the development of secondary mental illness in people with autism spectrum disorder, practitioners must address the issues of prevention and early intervention. Prevention means dealing with bullying and social isolation, while early intervention means recognising mental health problems in the context of autism spectrum disorder. The lack within our mental health services and the almost complete absence of mental health services for children and young adults is an absolute disgrace. The fact that some children are waiting for mental health assessment and intervention for four years in certain parts of this country contributes to people with autism developing serious mental disorders. According to the UK study, up to 32% could develop such problems.

Photo of Joe McHughJoe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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This motion is about choice. Some people with autism are allowed access to ABA and some are not. At a time when we are talking about career pathways, education continuance and using buzz words like "cradle to the grave", there are people included and others excluded. Tonight we stand at a very important juncture in terms of educational inclusivity.

I thank my colleague, Deputy Brian Hayes, Fine Gael's spokesperson on education, for tabling this motion because there are a number of very serious questions to be answered. There are questions from a mother whose son is No. 59 on a waiting list for an ABA place in Drogheda. There are questions from a mother whose son had funding removed when he was aged six and who now has to provide home tuition for him from her own funds. That particular child, who is now seven years old, has never been to school. We talk about continuance and inclusivity and yet here is a child who has never been to school and whose mother is funding private tuition at home.

What of the parents who are living with the daily fear that their child will end up in an institution at 12 years of age? Where is the career pathway, the career progression, the ambition and the vision for that 12 year old child? That is the fear of parents at the moment. What of the continuum of education for children with mild Asperger's syndrome, when they reach the age of 18 and are still with their parents, who must rear them as if they were still 14 years old? Where is the ambition, support, inclusivity and the continuum?

What of early intervention and second-chance education for everybody? The Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Hanafin, at every official function, will talk about second-chance education but what we are talking about here is first-chance education. People are being precluded from first-chance education. I leave the House with one lasting thought — for the seven year old boy who has never been to school, where is the first chance?

Photo of Terence FlanaganTerence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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I thank my colleague, Deputy Brian Hayes, for raising this serious matter in the Dáil and thank our visitors in the Public Gallery for attending tonight's debate.

Last week, the Minister for Education and Science destroyed the hopes of 70 families of autistic children by withdrawing the funding for their special needs education. These families, attached to four schools set up by parents of autistic children, received funding on a monthly basis for one-to-one tuition. A payment was due last week but instead, they received a letter from the Department telling them that their home tuition is ending next month and they must prepare to enrol their children in school, where they will be taught at a ratio of at least six to one. Each of these children has individual needs and the one-to-one tuition which they are currently receiving should continue.

Achieve ABA school in Donaghmede is in my Dublin North-East constituency. It was established to provide education for autistic children and was founded by a group of parents whose children's needs were not being catered for by the Department of Education and Science. The Minister, Deputy Hanafin, was providing a home tuition allowance, which covered half of the costs to the parents of the children attending this school. The parents have now been told by the Minister, "My way, or no way". Only four of the six children have received notification of a school place. I now call on the Minister to tell the House what schools have been allocated to the other two children.

I have many questions arising from the Minister's speech last night and am disappointed she is not here to answer them.

Photo of Ulick BurkeUlick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Where is the Minister?

Photo of Terence FlanaganTerence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Perhaps she will write to me personally, with her responses. How many ABA schools has the Minister visited since her appointment?

Photo of Ulick BurkeUlick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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None.

Photo of Terence FlanaganTerence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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I believe the answer is none. How then can she, as the Minister, formulate policy without seeing the issue first-hand? Does the Minister not acknowledge that parents must have some input into deciding the most appropriate form of education for their child? Does she not agree that parents must be listened to, as they know what is working best for their child? Surely when parents have received a recommendation from a professionally qualified person that ABA is the most effective education method for their child, this advice should be listened to and acted upon.

The Minister referred extensively in her speech last night to the fact that the number of special needs assistants has increased from 300 to 10,000. However, she failed to point out that her own Department's website explicitly states that special needs assistants are not educators but have a caring and support role. Parents want to have their children educated, not simply cared for in the classroom.

The Minister also referred to experts brought in by her Department from both Norway and the United States of America but failed to provide their names or qualifications, which would be useful, given that this was her first ever mention of these experts. I would be grateful if the Minister would provide full details about these people.

The Minister further stated that one-to-one teaching is not appropriate for all children. While I agree with her on that point, what of the children for whom it is appropriate? It is the minority of lower-functioning children who need the one-to-one tuition. Can the Minister explain how the new units her Department has set up are suitable for lower-functioning children?

The Minister used a nice sound bite regarding her approach as being "child-centred rather than method-centred". While it is a pleasant sound bite, it means nothing. What is child-centred about, ignoring the needs of lower-functioning children?

I hope the Government Members will support the motion before the House.

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I welcome the parents in the Public Gallery who chose to travel to the House for this motion and thank Deputy Brian Hayes for tabling it. The Fine Gael motion is straightforward and I believe that but for party loyalty, many Fianna Fáil, Progressive Democrats and Green Party Deputies would support it and I appeal to them to do so. Listening to experienced and influential Deputies like Deputy O'Rourke speaking to support the motion, but who disappear and return later to vote against the motion, does not inspire the type of confidence we, as politicians, should inspire among our visitors.

Photo of Brian HayesBrian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Hear, hear.

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I and others have only a few minutes each because many Fine Gael speakers wanted to contribute. I wish to concentrate on the essence of the motion, which is summed up in the second line of our calls on the Government, namely, to make specific education services available to autistic children where it has been recommended by psychologists, without delay. Ironically, the Government's commitment in its programme for Government is exactly what we and the parents in the Visitors Gallery want. The Government's promise in the programme states:

Provide each child with special needs with the right to an Individual Education Plan. This will ensure that each child has a tailored programme to meet their unique individual needs. In the case of children with autism, the Plan will enable them to benefit from a range of teaching approaches, including PECS, ABA and TEACCH, as appropriate.

I wonder what the Ó Cuanacháin family thinks of this commitment.

Instead of outlining how the Minister, Deputy Hanafin, would deliver on those promises, she decided last night to embark on political attacks against Fine Gael in the House. She attacked Deputy Kenny for the terminology he apparently used at some stage in recent weeks and Deputy Brian Hayes for not turning up for a school visit organised by the education committee despite the fact that she has not visited an ABA school since becoming Minister.

Deputies:

Hear, hear.

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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This is the type of sniping by which parents who have travelled to listen to this debate will be disgusted. We want and they deserve solutions. It is the job of Government to provide hope that solutions are on the way for their children.

I want to challenge the Minister on her suggestion that those who support ABA schools want ABA to the exclusion of all other types of education. That is nonsense; we and parents are not asking for it. We are asking for choice.

Deputies:

Hear, hear.

Photo of Simon CoveneySimon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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It is devious and misleading to try to warp the motion to represent that opinion. People are looking for the right to access to the appropriate education for their children, which is not too much to ask. I welcome that funding for 12 ABA pilot projects will continue. I know one of them, the CABAS project, well. It was the first ABA pilot project in Cork.

8:00 pm

Photo of Jimmy DeenihanJimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Brian Hayes for tabling this important motion. It is estimated that there are more than 250 families affected by autism in County Kerry. Some of the parents affected are in the Gallery. The 400-mile round trip from Kerry they will make shows their commitment to and concern for their children.

There is a national need for planned services, including early diagnosis, suitable interventions and a full range of family supports. While the services available to families are improving, the professionals working in the field are under-resourced and many posts are not filled. Many services are fragmented, with parents witnessing little evidence of the development of a coherent plan involving the Department of Education and Science, the HSE and other service providers. The net result is that many professionals work in isolation and many families lose valuable time in addressing the developmental needs of their children.

For a good prognosis, children with autism need early intervention to modify their autistic characteristics. Unfortunately, they cannot receive any services until they have received diagnoses identifying their needs. In Kerry, children may experience delays of up to four years in getting a diagnosis of autism. To help overcome this issue, Kerry Autism Action has recently helped to fund assessments in the Solas Centre where children can receive a complete autism diagnostic service. An assessment is taken with input from a psychologist, occupational therapist, child psychiatrist and speech and language therapist.

While the Department has allocated extra resources to special autism classes in schools like the Nano Nagle special school, Listowel, Scoil Eoin, Balloonagh, Tralee, and Killahan Primary School, children requiring applied behavioural analysis education are neglected in Kerry. Since there are ABA schools in other parts of the country, including the Minister's constituency, Kerry Autism Action applied to the Department to fund such a school in Kerry. Despite repeated requests, the Department failed to respond to the application. As a result and with strong local support, the parents were forced to set up and fund their own school at Lixnaw. Since opening for a limited number of children, parents have witnessed dramatic improvements in some of their children's development, which I have seen personally.

I will make an appeal to the Minister in the Chamber and in person. If she does nothing else for parents in Kerry, she should fund the school. The parents needed to do it themselves, fund-raise for it and pay for it out of their own resources. Surely, she could add this school to the current 12 and replicate them elsewhere.

Photo of Tom SheahanTom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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I want to speak, not on behalf of my constituents, but on behalf of friends. I will make an observation before proceeding. It sickens me that only six Members of the Government parties are present during this debate on a national issue.

Deputies:

Hear, hear.

Photo of Tom SheahanTom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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When I discuss autism, I would like to use some adjectives — disillusionment, distress and frustration. This is what the parents of autistic children go through every day of the week. Not only should the Minister for Education and Science be present, but also the Minister for Health and Children. If autism is not dealt with, it will fall on the latter's lap in years to come.

I will be parochial after my colleague, Deputy Deenihan. In County Kerry, children travel in excess of 50 miles from west of Dingle to Beaufort to attend a school. When I consider autism and my friends with autistic children, it brings to mind the television advertisement in which parents of a son or daughter involved in a car accident ask who will take care of their children after they are gone. This question hits the parents of autistic children every day of the week. They are fighting to get the basic rights their children deserve and to which they are entitled.

It is a highly emotive issue about which I feel strongly. I call on the Minister to put the facilities and supports in place for the parents who deal with this matter day in, day out. As my colleague, Deputy Deenihan, stated, they pay for it out of their own pockets because the State does not provide the help their children need and to which they are entitled as a basic human right.

Photo of Kieran O'DonnellKieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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I want to speak on this motion about which I feel strongly. One after the other, Government Members preach that they are in favour of ABA and lecture us to the effect that, if we promote ABA, we are not recognising the other methods, but we do recognise them. TEACCH, PECS and others are great methods in their own right.

The matter arising is that parents whose children have been assessed and who state that ABA is the best method are entitled to ABA for their children. I am a parent and all that parents want is for children to achieve their optimum. Nothing more, nothing less, but this is being denied to parents of children with autism. It is as simple as that. An Act has been in place for more than three and a half years. It was enacted by the President on 26 July 2004, but nothing has occurred other than the putting in place of the appeals board. Despite their urgency, no assessments or educational plans have been put in place. The Government needs to act in respect of these simple measures.

Tonight is a defining moment for the Government. There are areas in which funding should not be an issue and disability is one. I agree with my colleague, Deputy Sheahan, as six Government Deputies are on the benches to debate something fundamental to how our nation is perceived. We must look after the disabled and return to a child-centred approach. The Government should ask parents what their children need rather than the Minister lecturing parents as parents know what is best for their children. If parents have had an assessment that shows applied behavioural analysis, ABA, is the best method of education for their child then they should be allowed use a school that offers it. Parents were forced to go to court to get the best for their child and this should not have been the case. The funding should have been provided to allow that child be taught using the ABA method.

In my constituency of Limerick East a school called ABA Bluebell has functioned and done fantastic work since 2004 by raising funds privately. This school should be funded as the issue relates to choice and how our society will be looked upon. I put this to all of the Government TDs here. Deputy Mary O'Rourke made an impassioned plea relating to ABA and if she feels so strongly she should vote with us tonight because the only way we will get the message to the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Mary Hanafin, is if Government backbenchers and Ministers vote with us to put children first. Children who need ABA education should be allowed receive it in an environment with which parents are happy.

Photo of Brendan HowlinBrendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Micheál Martin, has three minutes.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I thought I was entitled to at least five minutes.

I welcome the opportunity to discuss this motion and the proposed amendment. We have come a long way in terms of how we teach and provide education for children with autism and special needs.

Photo of Pádraic McCormackPádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Why stop?

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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In 1997, when I was appointed Minister for Education and Science, though it is hard to believe, there was no official recognition by the State of autism as a specific condition that demanded a specific education response. It is incredible but true that before this the special education review did not recognise autism. There was no pupil-teacher ratio for children with autism in mainstream schools, there were no special needs assistants in primary schools and very few resource teachers.

At that stage there were court cases involving parents anxious to secure places in American schools, particularly the Higashi school in Boston, which I visited. Many people involved in special education at the time were sceptical of that approach, yet the courts adjudicated that the Department should fund people to go to Boston. There was a dearth of research in the Department of Education and Science regarding what methodology represented the best approach to autism — the TEACCH methodology was popular at the time, though PECS was also prominent.

In this context the first ABA pilot scheme began and the term "pilot" was applied to ensure it would be properly evaluated and that lessons would be learned regarding its broader applicability. We have come a long way since then in terms of the thousands of resource teachers and special needs assistants, SNAs, that have since been appointed. The integration of special needs into mainstream education was successful and was not a social experiment, as Deputy Kenny called it last week, but a valid approach to educating children.

I believe that court is not the best place to decide the best methodology of teaching. I do not believe "one size fits all" education can work as the autistic spectrum is a continuum with different manifestations in different children in terms of severity, dependency and so forth. I set up the first ABA pilot and parents responded positively to it but some I spoke to felt other aspects of education could be enhanced more in the methodology, such as communication skills, speech therapy and so forth. As the Minister noted yesterday, the idea of a broad range of methodologies is not a ludicrous suggestion and through proper engagement and dialogue with all concerned we can try to work out the best resolution to this issue.

Photo of Ulick BurkeUlick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Not in the courts.

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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We have learned a lot over the past ten years; our teacher training colleges now have modules on autism and teachers now have access to autism-specific training. The logistical issues relating to training teachers to properly understand autism are significant but proper integration with the wide range of supports that exists can help in a multidisciplinary approach to a child's development and education.

Photo of Pádraic McCormackPádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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So that is another vote for the motion.

Photo of Andrew DoyleAndrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I wish to share time with Deputies Pat Breen and Brian Hayes.

I speak as a member of the board of management of St. Catherine's Special National School, the umbrella school of which Barnacoyle in Wicklow is part. The Department insists that all autistic children can be educated in mainstream schools, though some children are better served in one to one classes that local schools cannot provide.

Despite the Minister's comments in the Dáil on choice for parents the special school for autistic children in Barnacoyle is under threat of closure because the Department of Education and Science will no longer pay for the support and education of autistic children not yet ready for mainstream education. Parents see the benefits of special schools that use the ABA approach in the behaviour of their children as these schools teach them in a less intensive learning environment than mainstream schools. No parents want their child to be in an ABA school because it is fashionable; every parent's aspiration is to send his or her child to a mainstream school. Some parents believe so strongly in the value of ABA education that they are willing to take on the Department of Education and Science in court and stake their time and home on the outcome.

Despite an award of €61,000 from the HSE for delays in diagnosis and the lack of appropriate therapies to assist their autistic child, the Ó Cuanacháins now face a possible bill of €2 million for their efforts to get an appropriate education for their son. The total legal costs of the case are estimated at between €5 million and €7 million and, ironically, this is the same amount of money that is estimated to be necessary to provide the 12 special schools that are no longer being funded by the Department with funding. Barnacoyle is one of these schools.

The four primary schools in Wicklow that have been earmarked to take the children from the Barnacoyle class are not equipped to support them. The children are doing very well at Barnacoyle using the ABA approach. These children need a one to one pupil-teacher ratio rather than a one to six ratio and 240 days of schooling rather than the 168 days provided in mainstream schools. The children in Barnacoyle are guaranteed the professional support needed to progress them to possible participation in a mainstream school. I find it puzzling that the Minister sees fit to acknowledge that 12 ABA schools provide a good, workable system but does not make the methodology available all over Ireland. It is recognised as a successful technique for some autistic children but it has been erroneously suggested that Fine Gael seeks the use of this methodology with all autistic children.

Why is it deemed necessary to close the additional 12 ABA schools, including Barnacoyle, when a great deal of voluntary effort and local funding from devoted parents and friends goes into them? Considerable expertise has been built up in these schools by all concerned and there have been tangible results for all of the children who have gone through the system. Why add the nightmarish burden of court proceedings as the only option open to parents when there should be an appeals mechanism? I heard last night that the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act 2004, EPSEN, will not be rolled out until the end of 2010. This is some time away for the 150 parents to follow the Ó Cuanacháins.

The Minister has made the issue of integration and education for all a matter of principle. We agree with this and feel it to be worthy, as do all parents. The crux of the matter is that a perception has been created that since no single method can meet every child's need no single method can meet any child's need. This is the only effective method of education for the Ó Cuanacháins' son and other children until they are taught how to learn. The Department of Education and Science maintains it is providing adequate curriculum supports for autistic children who are not yet ready for primary school. If, however, children cannot be supported in their local primary school, as Deputy McHugh pointed out, the only education choice available to parents is home tuition and this option deprives children with autism of an opportunity to mix with other children.

The Government's amendment notes its determination to "develop special schools as centres of excellence and outreach facilities". Barnacoyle school and the other ABA schools are centres of excellence. It also refers to allowing "for dual enrolment so that children can attend both a special school and a mainstream school as appropriate". This is news to the House. It is critical that the Government act on its commitment to improve access to assessment because children are waiting for two years for assessments.

I commend the Fine Gael Party motion to the House. It should be accepted by the Government.

Photo of Pat BreenPat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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I welcome members of the Clare autism action group who have travelled to Dublin to listen to the debate. Many people will remember the film "Rain Man", which was made in 1988 and depicted to the wider world the difficulties with social interaction and communications faced by children born with autism. As a spectrum disease, however, children diagnosed with autism may act completely differently and have varying skills.

Despite her remark last night that "all children are different and children with autism are different", the Minister has decided not to approve further ABA centres. She will decide what is best for children with autism. Surely the parents of children with autism know what is best for their children. Following the failure of the recent Ó Cuanacháin case, a spokesperson for the Irish Autism Action Group stated that litigation was the last desperate resort for parents. Unfortunately, following the Minister's refusal to fund new ABA centres, I fear that more and more parents will be forced to go before the courts.

Parents of autistic children face a daily struggle, one which all parents of children with special needs must undertake to secure proper educational facilities for their children. The Minister stated last night that 3,600 children were attending special classes in mainstream and special schools. In June 2005, I was pleased to learn that an autism unit for Kilrush national school in County Clare had been given the green light. The decision ended a 70 mile journey for parents in Ennis. However, three years later the children in question are still using a prefabricated building.

The west Clare voices for autism group is frustrated at the lack of services available. The shortage of funding means the group has been waiting for three years to meet a psychologist to obtain advice for the parent of a ten year old girl, one of many children on the waiting list. Long waiting lists for psychologists and speech therapists are commonplace. One mother recently told me that while children aged up to six years can secure some level of service, those aged between six and 18 years are left behind. She pleaded with me to highlight the fact that every child is an individual with individual needs and urged the provision of adequate facilities and respite houses to stimulate the imagination of the children.

This morning, I received an e-mail from a father who calls himself a "luck" parent. His son attends the ABA school in Galway. His wife gave up work and drives almost 1,000 miles each week to ensure her son receives the education recommended for him. Is that a luck parent?

In June 2006, the Clare autism action group submitted a business case to establish an ABA school. In January this year, it was advised by the Department that funding would not be made available for the project. Members of the group are devastated. Of the 12 ABA schools, only two of them are located in the west, namely, in Cork and Galway. The Minister's decision to refuse funding for the proposed school in County Clare is short-sighted. She should be present to listen to the agonising plea for help from a man on the west Clare peninsula whom I know well. He is the father of an 11 year old girl with autism. This morning he asked me what would happen to his beautiful daughter in two years' time when she leaves national school. Why, he asked, has west Clare been overlooked? He said he was worn out from fighting and asked whether he would have to start fighting again.

I urge the Minister to rethink her strategy. Parents of children with autism must shape their future. The issue cannot be left to chance. Every child can learn, just not on the same day or in the same way. Perhaps the Minister will learn something from these words.

Photo of Brian HayesBrian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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I recognise the presence of many people in the Public Gallery and rooms all over the House. Many could not get into the Gallery to listen to Members' contributions. If this debate continued until 1 a.m., we still would not have sufficient time. As one speaker pointed out, we are all learning from the discussion. There is no great font of wisdom on one side or the other.

As citizens of a republic, we have a written constitution under which the House cannot pass laws or motions which are repugnant to the Constitution. Bunreacht na hÉireann contains specific commitments to the parents of children. I refer specifically to Article 42, which states:

1.The State acknowledges that the primary and natural educator of the child is the Family and guarantees to respect the inalienable right and duty of parents to provide, according to their means, for the religious and moral, intellectual, physical and social education of their children.

2.Parents shall be free to provide this education in their homes or in private schools or in schools recognised or established by the State.

Let us get back to the Constitution and its clearly expressed rights and duties. The Fine Gael Party motion was framed in the context of Article 42. We do not suggest a single or one-size-fits-all approach for autistic children, we ask the Government to show flexibility and recognise the range of options available. Specifically, when a psychological assessment concludes that the ABA model is preferable, the child must be given this option.

Deputies:

Hear, hear.

Photo of Brian HayesBrian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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That is the demand in the motion, which is clearly framed in accordance with Article 42 of the Constitution. We want parental choice. As the parent of a child in senior infant class, it is wonderful to see my child coming home every day full of excitement and information. Parents in this position are blessed. How much more difficult is it for parents who do not have this experience? Do they not have more rights than others? Do we not have a greater duty of care to them than to the parents of children attending mainstream school? The State has an obligation to the parents of children with autism who are not helped by the belligerent, authoritarian attitude of the Minister for Education and Science.

Deputies:

Hear, hear.

Photo of Brian HayesBrian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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She takes an approach of "It is my way or no way." She will not listen and has not attended any of the ABA schools in a ministerial capacity. As I discovered today, she has not even formally launched the task force report of 2001. Last week, one of the co-authors of the report, Dr. Honan of Trinity College, stated clearly and unequivocally that the Minister is misguided in her view.

We need political leadership on this issue. We need to give people hope and, above all, choice. This can only be brought about by political action. The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Micheál Martin, when he was Minister for Education and Science, showed flexibility when he established pilot schools, but no further schools have been established. In fairness to the Minister for Transport, Deputy Noel Dempsey, as Minister for Education and Science he was prepared to listen and asked his officials to try to solve the problem. However, he did not remain in the post for long enough. Backbench Fianna Fáil Deputies should be aware that the lady is not for turning. They should not bother wasting their time with the Minister. I want them to go to the head of the Government, to the man who is on television a great deal these days for all kinds of reasons. I want them to put pressure on him because I know a small ginger group of people exists within the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party who are unconvinced by the authoritarian stance of the Minister.

I want them to put pressure on the leader of their party to meet people at the very least halfway, to give them hope and not to go through the scandal of young parents of a five year old child dragging their case through the courts and possibly facing the loss of their house. Is this a great edifice to the republican party? Is it a great edifice to our years of independence? More can be done. More should be done but it is time for politicians to listen to what is being demanded.

Amendment put.

The Dail Divided:

For the motion: 75 (Michael Ahern, Noel Ahern, Barry Andrews, Chris Andrews, Bobby Aylward, Joe Behan, Niall Blaney, Áine Brady, Cyprian Brady, Johnny Brady, John Browne, Thomas Byrne, Dara Calleary, Pat Carey, Niall Collins, Margaret Conlon, Seán Connick, John Cregan, Ciarán Cuffe, Martin Cullen, John Curran, Noel Dempsey, Jimmy Devins, Timmy Dooley, Frank Fahey, Michael Finneran, Michael Fitzpatrick, Seán Fleming, Beverley Flynn, Pat Gallagher, Paul Gogarty, Noel Grealish, Mary Harney, Jackie Healy-Rae, Máire Hoctor, Billy Kelleher, Peter Kelly, Brendan Kenneally, Michael Kennedy, Tony Killeen, Séamus Kirk, Michael Kitt, Tom Kitt, Brian Lenihan Jnr, Conor Lenihan, Michael Lowry, Jim McDaid, Tom McEllistrim, Finian McGrath, Mattie McGrath, Michael McGrath, Micheál Martin, John Moloney, Michael Moynihan, Michael Mulcahy, M J Nolan, Éamon Ó Cuív, Seán Ó Fearghaíl, Darragh O'Brien, Charlie O'Connor, Rory O'Hanlon, Batt O'Keeffe, Ned O'Keeffe, Mary O'Rourke, Christy O'Sullivan, Peter Power, Seán Power, Dick Roche, Eamon Ryan, Trevor Sargent, Eamon Scanlon, Brendan Smith, Noel Treacy, Mary White, Michael Woods)

Against the motion: 66 (Bernard Allen, James Bannon, Seán Barrett, Pat Breen, Tommy Broughan, Richard Bruton, Ulick Burke, Joan Burton, Catherine Byrne, Joe Carey, Paul Connaughton, Noel Coonan, Joe Costello, Simon Coveney, Seymour Crawford, Lucinda Creighton, Michael D'Arcy, Jimmy Deenihan, Andrew Doyle, Bernard Durkan, Damien English, Olwyn Enright, Frank Feighan, Martin Ferris, Charles Flanagan, Terence Flanagan, Eamon Gilmore, Brian Hayes, Tom Hayes, Michael D Higgins, Phil Hogan, Brendan Howlin, Enda Kenny, Ciarán Lynch, Pádraic McCormack, Shane McEntee, Dinny McGinley, Joe McHugh, Liz McManus, Olivia Mitchell, Arthur Morgan, Denis Naughten, Dan Neville, Michael Noonan, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, Aengus Ó Snodaigh, Kieran O'Donnell, Fergus O'Dowd, Jim O'Keeffe, John O'Mahony, Brian O'Shea, Jan O'Sullivan, Willie Penrose, John Perry, Pat Rabbitte, James Reilly, Michael Ring, Alan Shatter, Tom Sheahan, P J Sheehan, Seán Sherlock, Róisín Shortall, Emmet Stagg, Joanna Tuffy, Leo Varadkar, Jack Wall)

Tellers: Tá, Deputies Tom Kitt and John Curran; Níl, Deputies Damien English and Emmet Stagg.

Amendment declared carried.

Question put: "That the motion, as amended, be agreed to."

The Dáil divided by electronic means.

Photo of Damien EnglishDamien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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As a teller, and in view of the importance of the issue, under Standing Orders I call for the vote to be taken by other than electronic means.

Photo of John O'DonoghueJohn O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Ceann Comhairle)
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The vote will proceed.

Question again put: "That the motion, as amended, be agreed to."

The Dail Divided:

For the motion: 75 (Michael Ahern, Noel Ahern, Barry Andrews, Chris Andrews, Bobby Aylward, Joe Behan, Niall Blaney, Áine Brady, Cyprian Brady, Johnny Brady, John Browne, Thomas Byrne, Dara Calleary, Pat Carey, Niall Collins, Margaret Conlon, Seán Connick, John Cregan, Ciarán Cuffe, Martin Cullen, John Curran, Noel Dempsey, Jimmy Devins, Timmy Dooley, Frank Fahey, Michael Finneran, Michael Fitzpatrick, Seán Fleming, Beverley Flynn, Pat Gallagher, Paul Gogarty, Noel Grealish, Mary Harney, Jackie Healy-Rae, Máire Hoctor, Billy Kelleher, Peter Kelly, Brendan Kenneally, Michael Kennedy, Tony Killeen, Séamus Kirk, Michael Kitt, Tom Kitt, Brian Lenihan Jnr, Conor Lenihan, Michael Lowry, Jim McDaid, Tom McEllistrim, Finian McGrath, Mattie McGrath, Michael McGrath, Micheál Martin, John Moloney, Michael Moynihan, Michael Mulcahy, M J Nolan, Éamon Ó Cuív, Seán Ó Fearghaíl, Darragh O'Brien, Charlie O'Connor, Rory O'Hanlon, Batt O'Keeffe, Ned O'Keeffe, Mary O'Rourke, Christy O'Sullivan, Peter Power, Seán Power, Dick Roche, Eamon Ryan, Trevor Sargent, Eamon Scanlon, Brendan Smith, Noel Treacy, Mary White, Michael Woods)

Against the motion: 66 (Bernard Allen, James Bannon, Seán Barrett, Pat Breen, Tommy Broughan, Richard Bruton, Ulick Burke, Joan Burton, Catherine Byrne, Joe Carey, Paul Connaughton, Noel Coonan, Joe Costello, Simon Coveney, Seymour Crawford, Lucinda Creighton, Michael D'Arcy, Jimmy Deenihan, Andrew Doyle, Bernard Durkan, Damien English, Olwyn Enright, Frank Feighan, Martin Ferris, Charles Flanagan, Terence Flanagan, Eamon Gilmore, Brian Hayes, Tom Hayes, Michael D Higgins, Phil Hogan, Brendan Howlin, Paul Kehoe, Enda Kenny, Ciarán Lynch, Pádraic McCormack, Shane McEntee, Dinny McGinley, Joe McHugh, Liz McManus, Olivia Mitchell, Denis Naughten, Dan Neville, Michael Noonan, Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, Aengus Ó Snodaigh, Kieran O'Donnell, Fergus O'Dowd, Jim O'Keeffe, John O'Mahony, Brian O'Shea, Jan O'Sullivan, Willie Penrose, John Perry, Pat Rabbitte, James Reilly, Michael Ring, Alan Shatter, Tom Sheahan, P J Sheehan, Seán Sherlock, Róisín Shortall, Emmet Stagg, Joanna Tuffy, Leo Varadkar, Jack Wall)

Tellers: Tá, Deputies Tom Kitt and John Curran; Níl, Deputies Damien English and Emmet Stagg.

Question declared carried.