Ciarán Cannon (Progressive Democrats)

I welcome the Minister of State and congratulate him on surviving the cull. He has been most courteous to Members in this House.

The parents of a number of children with special needs in County Galway have worked very hard in recent years to fill an educational void that exists for children with special needs in the three to six years age group. They have done so in child development centres located in Galway city, Ballinasloe and Tuam. The Department of Education has helped by funding the provision of teaching and special needs assistant hours and the centres have been very beneficial to the children involved in recent years.

Last year the parents became aware that this funding might not be available. After a number of interventions, the funding was made available. At this point the same message seems to be coming from the Department of Education and Science, that it will no longer provide funding for this valuable service, which cannot be provided within the mainstream education system in County Galway or most parts of Ireland.

Parents are confirming enrolment for September but are not able to enrol new children until they find out if ongoing funding will be available next year. The children catered for in these centres present with autism, severe learning disability and physical disability and the multidisciplinary staff who have assessed these children have recommended the child development centre placements as valuable, particularly in the absence of other appropriate educational placements.

I plead with the Minister of State that the current funding be made available so that the service can continue. Alternatively, this service could be incorporated into other permanent school facilities that exist in the area. I understand there may be an initiative in this direction and it would be most welcome. The funding in the child development centres could be diverted to other formal schools with boards of management and principals. The children could be cared for and educated under the auspices of these schools. I ask for one of these measures to be set up. Anyone who works with children knows that the most vulnerable time in a child's development is between three and six years. I hope the facilities provided in three locations in County Galway can continue.