Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 6:

In page 21, between lines 21 and 22, to insert the following:

"20.—(1) The Minister shall ensure that parents of children to whom this Act applies shall be afforded adequate counselling and support services.

(2) In complying with subsection (1), the Minister shall recognise the importance of promoting the communication between such parents and facilitating the exchange of views.".

When parents realise that a child has special needs, depending on the severity of the disability, this can have a serious impact on the family, the individual parents and siblings. This Bill will guarantee the parents' input into the education of their child. There is no doubt that parents will need counselling, assistance and support. There is a shock to the system and to the family and educational environment. This section of the Bill refers to information regarding the student being made available to parents. There is an emphasis on the provision of information but no indication of the necessity for parents to have access to professional counselling to help them be supportive of the child's needs. It was highlighted in the debate on Second Stage that people may withdraw emotionally from a situation and be in denial. This could be highly detrimental to the child with special needs and could add further to the delay. I cannot find in the Bill any mechanism whereby parents have access to counselling and support services for the short time it may be required. It would not be a great expenditure at any level but it is very important to some parents.