John Dolan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister very much for his attention here today. To cut to the chase, I do not see in the strategy statement the ambition, commitment or passion for the full inclusion of children and people with disabilities or special needs. That is my assessment of it. The authors have chosen not to reference people with disabilities as a key priority, in spite of a commitment in the programme for Government to ratify the UN convention, or to reference or footnote Article 24 of that convention. The Minister is talking about having a high ambition but I do not know whether he could have a much higher ambition regarding children and young people with disabilities and special needs than to refer to Article 44 of the convention and use it as a standard bearer.

There is no setting out of the level of disadvantage among the children and families in order to underline the work and generate a sense of urgency in respect of it. Let me give some examples. A quarter of the children of Ireland have some form of disability. Children with disabilities are more likely to come from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds. This creates a double disadvantage because those with disabilities, based on their lower socio-economic status, are more likely to be at the bottom rung, to be placed in special schools settings or to be outside the mainstream setting.

In the first quarter of 2015, just 39% of the applications for an assessment of need were completed within the required timeframe. Many parents are forced to pay for private assessments to support applications for additional resources. Children of parents who cannot afford to pay for a private diagnosis are receiving fewer resource hours in their schools. Some 43% of people with disabilities have not progressed beyond primary education. That compares with 90% among others. This is an outline of some of the very hard facts. I am not making these up; they are coming from a range of reputable reports.

The strategy acknowledges that there are significant measures in the EPSEN Act, passed by these two Houses in 2004, that still have not been enacted or in respect of which the hold button has been pressed. Full implementation of the Act is necessary. Technology has fascinating potential to support students with disabilities in overcoming barriers. There are still key challenges to be addressed in this regard.

Bizarrely and surprisingly, there are repeated references in the report to children in one area of disability, an area that needs support. Why is this the case when there are no references to children with autism, Asperger's syndrome, Friedreich's ataxia, muscular dystrophy, epidermolysis bullosa, arthritis, spina bifida, hydrocephalus, mental health issues, deafness or other such conditions. If there is to be ambition, it ought to encompass all the children. The plan seems to have been to run down the road of picking one group. That really shows the flaws that are in the statement. I have no doubt that it is well meaning but it is flawed.

At the commencement of the debate, it was heartening to hear the Minister talk about the twin objectives, or Government challenges. One concerns employment. The Minister will certainly know from his last posting, in which he had responsibility in this area, that he did not hear too much about disabled people becoming redundant, for the very simple reason they were never in jobs. Therefore, education is an absolute pillar in allowing people to advance. Employment is key to that. It is critical that the education authorities get on with the job smartly. I refer to the question of having a fair society and breaking the cycle of disadvantage.

Why did the Minister not reference Article 24 the UN convention given that it is implied in the programme for Government? Did the Minister's officials take the opportunity to read and study it? Will the Department continually dance to that tune now? The Minister said he will be updating the strategy annually, so he has an opportunity to do as I propose.