Lynn Ruane (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I want to address a couple of areas and hopefully get some answers. One relates to the fact that over 6,000 children live in care, some for short periods while family difficulties, such as the illness of a lone parent, are resolved but many grow up in care. How are these children doing educationally? How many sit the leaving certificate or go on to further education? Why are there no data for this specific group? The State is responsible for these children but it is not asking questions around education. We have an obligation, as a society, to children in care to increase their future chances and education pays a crucial role in this. Can the Minister change this deficit in knowledge about kids in care and their educational journey? Scotland, Australia, the US and Northern Ireland gather data on educational attainment of children in the care of the state and publish them regularly.

We are discussing the Cassells report at the Joint Committee on Education and Skills and I call on the Minister to provide a technical report to go with the Cassells report. It is all very abstract and we need a technical report to look at the three different options, how they are rolled out, where the funding comes from and who funds them. We have no understanding of how each would work in practice and this piece of the investigation into third level education is missing.

Many children with dyscalculia, the mathematical equivalent of dyslexia, receive no diagnosis of, or resources for, the condition. We need to recognise it on the same level as dyslexia but there are no supports at leaving certificate stage for anybody with dyscalculia. We are doing a lot in mental health in schools and this is a positive step that I welcome but I am concerned about the sustainability of teacher capacity in the area. Teachers are the carriers of change in this area but they have a fear of intervening. I submitted an inclusive model for teacher training to the Department, which would mean teachers would do work placements in mental health provider centres, youth clubs and domestic violence centres so that they really understand the context in which they are working before they are placed in schools. Another question relates to disadvantaged students who attend private colleges such as Griffith College. They are living on the margins yet State funding in terms of SUSI does not extend to them. Could the Minister indicate whether there will be any movement in that regard?

I refer to the many recent comments about Ireland being one of the biggest losers in relation to Brexit. Could the Minister outline the plan for the Department in terms of what is being put in place to support Irish universities that suffer following the negotiations on Brexit?

I commend the Department on extending the period Indian students can stay in Ireland. Will a similar extension be extended to other nationalities as it is a positive step in terms of attracting foreign students to universities in this country?