Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

This matter is in my name and that of my colleague, Senator Ó Ríordáin. We are delighted to see the Minister here and he is very welcome. I also extend the congratulations of the Labour Party group to the Minister on his new post. I thank him for taking this matter.

The question we have raised, on foot of representations to both Senator Ó Ríordáin and me, is to ask the Minister for Education and Skills to inform the House why children with Down's syndrome are excluded from the July provision scheme administered by his Department and if he will explain the rationale behind the specific criteria being applied by the Department for this exclusion. The Minister may be aware that this is of serious concern to many parents throughout Ireland who have children with Down's syndrome. There is an online petition on the issue of July provision which has been signed by about 5,000 parents to date. The issue they raise is what seems to be an irrational exclusion of children with Down's syndrome from a scheme of July provision which provides supports to children with certain intellectual disabilities over the summer months. July provision is not available to children with Down's syndrome who have a mild or moderate intellectual disability. This seems strange, given that children with the same level of intellectual disability with different conditions are able to access the programme.

The parents who have come to us have told us eloquently how their children would benefit greatly from the programme for many reasons, in particular that the summer holidays are very long, their children crave routine and structure and are unable to participate in the majority of mainstream summer camps. They fall behind in their schoolwork and their educational development as a result of not having access, through the July provision scheme, to educational supports in the summer months. Their children also tend to be absent more often than other children during the teaching terms and they miss valuable learning time during those months which could be made up during the summer when they tend to be at their healthiest.

Letters have been sent to the Minister's Department and officials and there does not seem to be any rational basis offered for the exclusion of children with Down's syndrome from the July provision scheme. They should be provided with support and would definitely benefit from it. The Minister of State with responsibility for disability issues, Deputy Finian McGrath, has also been approached on this issue, as was the previous Minister for Education and Skills.

We are seeking some explanation from the Minister as to the basis on which children with Down's syndrome are not given access to this important programme which would give so much benefit to them and their parents and families.