Phil Prendergast (Labour)

I thank Senator Norris for sharing time with me on what I realise is an important subject. I will try not to repeat any of the points that have already been made, but I want to share some of my experiences.

I was contacted by a lady who had one child and was due a second. Her first child, who was in school, was aged five years and a diabetic who was severely dependent on insulin. The child needed insulin four times or more often per day. The mother was going to have a planned Caesarean section because the nature of her condition required it. In good time, we asked for an SNA to be allocated to her child because she was going to the school to administer the insulin each time a dose was required. An SNA with specialist training was required in that instance, but I was often told that no SNA could be allocated and that the mother would have to go to the school. As everyone knows, however, one is not covered by insurance for up to six weeks after an operation. A dilemma was posed when the woman was asked to take her child out of the school. Sense prevailed and we managed to get the child an SNA, but the situation was emotive and upsetting for the mother. This was a case of a child with a different type of special need than someone on, for example, the autistic spectrum.

I want to discuss SNAs I have met in Cahir, Cashel, Clonmel and Carrick-on-Suir in south County Tipperary who were asked questions by officials from the Department of Education and Science. The officials told the SNAs that they were not interested in the cognitive abilities of the children with special needs in respect of whom the SNAs were in charge. Instead, the SNAs were asked whether the children would harm themselves or others were they not present. The SNAs needed to answer honestly, so they lost their jobs. What kind of criterion is this for assessing needs? Children with special needs improve in every way when someone caters for their needs and where they build interpersonal relations, trust and understanding. I had a problem with accepting the Department's approach. The subject of autistic children is a wide one. In the limited time I have, I will not discuss them, but their needs can vary throughout the day. One-on-one help allows them to improve and manage.

A lady living in Carrick-on-Suir was involved in a slightly different circumstance. Her child was attending Scoil Cormac in Cashel because their needs required the Lámh system. The woman could not get transport to the school because her nearest special needs school was in Waterford. However, her child had been assessed by a psychologist and was improving because of the Lámh system, which suited the child.

I have encountered these situations while holding clinics in south County Tipperary. They are not made up and are absolute fact. SNAs have lost their jobs, but children are the real losers. I again thank Senator Norris for his time.