Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister to the House and am glad to have the opportunity to contribute to this debate. I compliment the Minister on coming into this House, listening to many contributors with different points of view and taking on those views. She does not have a closed mind to this subject and I am delighted she is here to listen to this debate.

We all recognises the sacrifices parents of autistic children must make as it is a very complex condition that none of us fully understand. I come from a teaching background and was in a school with many disadvantaged and disabled students. Ten years ago there was no framework for special educational needs and when we wanted to consult parents and set up a structure we found there was a lack of assistants and resource teachers. We have come a long way but we are not yet finished.

The Minister has set up a framework, grasped the nettle and been stung by people who know less and who understand the matter no more than I.