Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his response. Similar answers have been given to individual parents who contacted the office of his predecessor.

It still appears that there is no rational basis for the continued exclusion of children with Down's syndrome from the scheme. It appears that the policy is indirectly discriminatory as between different conditions or disabilities, particularly in the inclusion of children with ASD, whatever the level of learning disability. That is a key issue. Issues may arise in that regard under the European Social Charter and it certainly appears to many parents that it is inequitable.

I take issue with one aspect of the Minister's response where he states the NCSE review found "parents value July provision because it provides daytime respite for families". The parents who contacted Senator Ó Ríordáin and me have made very clear this is not about respite but about ensuring their children do not fall behind in their educational and intellectual development over the precious summer months. For them, it is about meeting the educational needs of the students. That is a very important point to make.

I ask the Minister again whether there is any rational reason that children with a mild to moderate learning disability who have Down's syndrome cannot be included in a scheme that includes all children with certain other diagnoses, particularly ASD. I ask him for a response.