Rónán Mullen (Independent)

Gabhaim buíochas as ucht an tseans a bheith agam cur leis na díospóireachta an-tábhachtach seo. Ba bhreá liom fáilte a chur roimh an Aire. Tá brón orm nach raibh mé in ann a bheith anseo don chuid is mó den díospóireacht ar ábhar atá an-tábhachtach go deo. Nach bhfuil sé soiléir gur chóir go dtabharfaí tús áite do dhaoine le míchumas i gcónaí inár sochaí? Is é an dúshlán atá roimh ár sibhialtacht ná a chinntiú go bhfuil gach rud riachtanach ar fáil dóibh siúd a bhfuil míchumas orthu. Má thugaimid tús áite do na daoine sin, ní féidir agus ní cheart go dtiocfadh ceist airgid nó riaracháin salach ar riachtanais na ndaoine úd agus a dtuismitheoirí. Bhí mé an-tógtha leis an chaoi inar sheas na tuismitheoirí an fód le linn na díospóireachta sa Dáil an tseachtain seo caite. Bhuail an tuaraim mé gur chóir go mbeadh an Rialtas an-chúramach nuair atá an lucht acadúil agus na tuismitheoirí ar aon taobh amháin. Feiceann na tuismitheoirí an fhulaingt agus dul chun cinn gur féidir a dhéanamh le applied behavioural analysis. Ní stopfaidh siad go dtí go bhfaigheann said an rud atá riachtanach do na páistí.

I have been in touch with teachers and parents who deal with and care for children with autism, and I am confining my comments to the issue of autism and ABA. They do not understand the attitude that has been taken by the bureaucracy to date. No doubt the Minister is sincere in her efforts to provide for the needs of people but as so often before, the other imperatives in public life of fiscal issues and bureaucracy tend to frustrate even the best of intentions.

I know of a case, for example, where a teacher realised that the necessary approach was not available and had to go and claim neglect under the Child Care Act 1991 to get the necessary special needs assistant in the school for a child with autism.

The Government is not stating that ABA is bad. It knows ABA is very much part of the solution. The problem is that in talking about an eclectic approach, it seems to give the impression that a little ABA will be fine as long as it is available in the school.

Let us be clear what is needed. We certainly need fully qualified teachers within the system but whether in autism units of ordinary schools or special ABA units or schools, we need fully qualified ABA consultants available to the schools. One needs a teacher who has done the necessary courses and has the qualifications in ABA who is working one on one with the children, and then backed-up by the necessary special needs assistants who can continue to work one on one.