Marie Moloney (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I second the motion. I welcome the Minister of State whom I congratulate on his recent promotion.

I acknowledge that this and previous Governments have made significant progress to improve and advance the education of citizens affected by disabilities. The primary objectives of the national disability strategy which was launched in 2004 were to provide people with disabilities with the means to take more control of their lives and allow those with disabilities to fulfil their potential and realise their individual aspirations and ambitions. I am pleased implementation of the strategy has remained a key priority for the Government, despite the economic downfall of the past six years and the necessary fiscal adjustments that have followed. I note statistics from the Association for Higher Education Access and Disability which show that the number of students with disabilities participating in higher education in 2013 rose to over 9,000 students, the biggest rise in seven years. The rise in the number of students with disabilities taking part in higher education is to be welcomed. I acknowledge that the disability access route to education, DARE, scheme is in place specifically to help and support people with a disability or a specific learning difficulty.

We must not, however, rest on the progress we have made so far. We must strive to provide every person who has a disability with quality education. We must maximise his or her potential and make accessing education as easy and uncomplicated as possible, which, unfortunately, is not always the case. I refer specifically to a number of students in County Kerry who were left high and dry on a number of fronts at the start of this school year. The three students in question were attending St. Ita's special school and, under legislation, must finish their education at this school once they reach the age of 18 years. They then come under the care of the HSE. All of these students have the ability to undertake examinations, which would I hope lead to employment and lessen their dependency on the State. One of them was due to sit her leaving certificate examinations this year, but, owing to illness, was not able to do so. She intends to sit them next year. Another student is due to sit a FETAC Level 3 examination, but, under the rules of the Department of Education and Skills, must leave the special school at the age of 18 years, thereby depriving her of the chance to sit the examination. The board of management and the school are willing to accommodate the students who have returned to finish their second level education. However, the Department refuses to sanction it officially. Where are these girls supposed to finish their education? Their parents tried unsuccessfully to source appropriate facilities for them; however, they have found that the educational services are not properly structured within the HSE to accommodate their needs. Thankfully, St. Ita's special school has agreed to accommodate the girls and give them a chance to finish their education in a structured environment providing them with the support they need.

As a result of what has happened, the students encountered difficulty in accessing school transport. Thankfully, representations to the Minister of State, Deputy Damien English, resulted in their being granted concessionary fare paying tickets with conditions. One of the conditions is that the girls must wait on the side of the road for the bus at a given location instead of being picked up at their homes, which had been the case heretofore. This brings its own problems as we now have a health and safety issue. Also, they must now pay for school transport. While the parents have not complained about this, there is a further problem if a parent is unable to afford the cost involved. We must remember that special schools are not available in every locality and some students have to a travel quite a distance to attend such a school. The point I am putting to the Minister of State is that if any one of these three girls did not have a need to attend a special school and was in mainstream education, age would not be an issue. Therefore, I put it to him that, in some cases, those who attend special schools are being discriminated against when it comes to their education. In speaking to a parent of one of the girls I was advised that this sorry saga had left her daughter emotionally upset and needlessly stressed.

There is a need for more joined-up thinking, cross-departmental co-operation and a more flexible education system that can make concessions when necessary. There will be problems from time to time when it comes to the education of children and adults with specific learning difficulties or a disability. These students are more likely to take longer than normal to complete their education and as such there should not be a cap or an age limitation in the case of special schools. Some students will obviously find education more challenging than others and may find the transition to the HSE service suits their needs.

We must move to a society in which all people are treated equally when it comes to education, but, as I have just pointed out, we are not there yet. It is our duty as elected representatives to highlight the shortcomings in legislation and in departmental rooms, which is why we have moved this motion tonight. I formally second it.