Mary Seery Kearney (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for coming to the House. I was particularly heartened to see the provisions in yesterday's plans when it comes to ASD and the provisions for special needs assistants. However, I want to draw her attention to a particular lacuna in the provisions, that is, in the areas of Dublin 6 and Dublin 6W. As a result of interventions and lobbying by the Involve Autism group and the Dublin 12 autism group a report was commissioned by the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, at the behest of the previous Minister, Deputy Joe McHugh. That report highlighted that lacuna in the provision. It also highlighted that it is being disputed by some of the schools which have come out on the public record and released letters countering the engagement by the NCSE, and it would appear that there was a lack of site visits.

The Department does not seem to have an inventory of the provisions within schools or the school accommodation. As a consequence, there is a dispute between what is possible and what is the reality. I ask the Minister to examine that. I am grateful to the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, who facilitated a meeting recently between Involve Autism and myself. I have the fullest confidence in her. However, I believe also that we will require the authority of the office of the Minister, Deputy Foley, to ensure that these children are included and that they have a right to be educated in their local community among the children in their local community, as has any other child.There may be an autism spectrum disorder provision in the junior part of the school but not in the senior part.