Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House. I have known her a long time. We soldiered together on Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, so I, too, know of her absolute commitment to be successful at whatever she does in every walk of political life. She has demonstrated that time and again in her commitments in other areas of politics. I acknowledge that and I welcome her to the House.

As the Minister of State is aware, education is about enabling all children in line with their abilities to live full and independent lives so that they can contribute to their communities and interact with others. That is most important. All children, including children with additional or special needs, have a right to an education which is appropriate to their needs. That is important. I want to spend most of my time talking about special needs because it is an important aspect of the debate. Everyone involved in children's education has had difficulty, be they teachers, SNAs, guardians or whoever else, those on the front line or the back line.

In recent weeks I was drawn to the major contribution made by Adam Harris of AsIAm. He has done amazing work. I know of him and his commitment in this area. He is someone who has personal experience of supported education and the needs around that. Education for people with additional needs is much broader. There is no one-fit solution or answer. I think the Minister of State said that in her opening comments. Adam Harris has given an awful lot of consideration and advocacy in this area.

I have spoken to parents who have children at home. One parent has two boys at home, one aged seven and the other aged eight. The challenges are enormous. One child has a hearing disability. The challenges and difficulties resulting from the Covid restrictions are enormous for all of us, but when one has two children with many complex and diverse needs, it is very difficult to communicate with them and explain why they are not going to school. Other children consider that they are somehow locked out. School is more than just education, it involves interaction, social engagement and personal development. When we talk about education, it is important that we talk about the cognitive aspects of education, but also about the emotional, imaginative, artistic, physical and spiritual aspects of it. Education is holistic and all of those aspects are critically important to children's early formation. For that matter, it is important for the formation of us all as we evolve, grow and learn. I thank the Minister of State for her comprehensive and detailed presentation. I also thank her officials in the Department and the Minister, Deputy Foley, for their engagement. Above all, I thank the teachers.

I know teachers who are afraid to go back to school.I know care workers who are involved in schools who are afraid to go back. I know canteen ladies who work in schools who do not really want to go back. However, we all know the importance of getting back at some point. These workers need reassurance and must have confidence that supports are available for them too. This is not a question of the Government pushing everybody back to schools. It is encouraging all of those who participate in education to return to some form of education in a controlled way that supports all of them.

It is important that we consider people who have specific educational needs. For many years, I was a director of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind. Blind people have never been able to have a proper educational programme for their young children. They have one-to-one home schooling. For children without eye sockets, the only education they have is a one-to-one session for three hours per week. This was long before Covid-19 came along. The only interaction they had was a pilot scheme in Munster, based in Cork, that has been going on for 15 or 20 years and now needs to be re-evaluated. They cannot be left out either. People who have a visual or hearing disability face challenges and they are also important. There is an obligation and commitment to provide education for all of our children and citizens. I think of the work the Cathaoirleach has done on Irish Sign Language and for people who are deaf. Long before Covid, many people were locked out of having meaningful development in their lives and achieving their full potential in order that they can play a meaningful role in their communities and as professionals. Having a disability does not mean someone is not academic or capable of great things. That is another misconception among members of the public.

I do not doubt the Minister of State's commitment. This needs resources. Covid has thrown up a number of additional challenges. When it has passed, we need to ask how we can provide real opportunities for everybody to learn. I ask the Minister of State to do that. I will drop a line to her Department on the visually impaired and blind children who need support.

While the Minister of State is here and given her portfolio of special education and her commitment to that area, I note the importance of constantly updating our literature. I looked at some literature on special education today. There are always new circumstances and new families starting off with a child who may have additional or special needs. They have simple questions. What, for example, is special educational need, learning disability or inclusive education and what supports are available to their children? How are special education needs being assessed and met? What will their children learn in school and how will they make the transition from primary to second level school? How can parents support children more in their education? These are the fundamental questions asked by families when they want a simple A to Z of how to interface with the education system. It is a lonely road for many people and it is not simple. I took the time to visit the Department's website and other websites. There seems to be an absence of updated information. While there is good information, it needs to be more relevant and up-to-date.

I wish the Minister of State well. She has many challenges and I know she is up for them. The start will be to see our children going back into mainstream schools next week. I have no doubt that everyone is here to support everyone else, be it the lollipop man or woman, the person working in the school canteen, the special needs assistant or the teacher. It is a positive but difficult step. I thank the unions which represent the teachers. They more than anyone know the value and importance of educating our children.