Fiona O'Loughlin (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We are discussing 18,552 students with complex needs who attend 124 special schools. I know two of these schools, St. Anne's School in the Curragh and St. Mark's School in Newbridge, very well. We are also discussing 1,836 special classes in 964 schools across the country.When we refer to that number of students, we are talking about individuals, families, parents and siblings. Those tight family units are very much part of their child's struggle to achieve their potential within an educational setting. There is no more important work that any parent can do than that which they do for a child with special needs. From the time the child is born or receives a diagnosis, the world is a battle. Parents have to try to get assessments, therapists and an appropriate place for the child, which it is to be hoped will be within the community in which the family live. As Senators are aware, all too often that is not possible.

There is no doubt that the path through life is more difficult for those with special needs. A child may be slower to walk or his or her speech may be difficult to understand. Some may differ in terms of their physical appearance. We use the word "special" in the context of special schools and people and students with special needs, but I can honestly say there is a very special ability to love young people with intellectual or special needs and, indeed, for them to love us. There is no doubt that every milestone that is reached is a special blessing. Every time a young person has the opportunity to excel at something, we all excel as a class, as a family and, indeed, as a community in terms of some of their significant achievements.

In the past 20 years, we have seen many improvements in special education. We have a long way to go but we certainly have seen many improvements and that must be acknowledged. I thank the Minister of State for the work that has been done and for the amount of consultation and engagement that has been carried out to get to the point whereby special schools will open next Thursday. We were all very disappointed that the two dates proposed for reopening did not come to fruition. I appreciate the difficult and hard work with all the various stakeholders to get to this point. It is very welcome that there is a concrete plan in place to support children with special educational needs to return to in-person schooling. The Minister of State referred to remote learning for children with special needs. I have no doubt that it is a help for some of them, but I do not think it is a help for the majority. However, I appreciate the efforts being made in that regard. The plan we have gives certainty to children and their families regarding when they can return to school, which is very important. The Government originally decided not to reopen schools in order to minimise the mobility of the entire population and so that 1 million people would not be travelling around at the same time. This was done to support the suppression of Covid-19 in communities.

I acknowledge and agree with the decision by the Minister of State and the Government to really try to provide for children with special needs because all Members saw how many of those children regressed during the first lockdown. We have heard story after story of heartbroken parents who want only the best for their children and who have been bled dry in so many situations in the context of trying to provide for them. Their frustration, despair and the sense of deep love that goes with parenting a child with special needs were evident.

Schools not being open has had significant adverse consequences at societal level.The loss of the regular attendance at school, the social interaction with friends and peers, the direct, face-to-face access with teachers and SNAs and the therapy interventions has all presented a huge challenge and, again, a real risk of regression to the learning, social and emotional development and well-being of these pupils.

There is one cohort we have not really discussed in all this, namely, the thousands of children with special needs who attend mainstream classes in mainstream schools. The Minister of State says talks on getting them back to school are ongoing, and I have absolutely no doubt but that they are, but I am really concerned about them. I am concerned, as we all are, about all children who are not in school, but those who were in mainstream classes have in a sense been forgotten about. I have had contact from a number of parents who are concerned about their children regressing. We have to appreciate that, like the July provision, this new provision has been put in place, and I commend the Minister of State and the Department on doing that. It is really important. However, parents who are doing their best to make sure that their children with special needs have the opportunity to push themselves and be in mainstream classrooms feel discriminated against. It reminds me of my brother, who has Down's syndrome. One day, to try to get out of some mischief he had caused, he turned around and said to the person who was in charge, "I have a little bit of Down's syndrome", to explain that perhaps a special dispensation should be given to him. Of course, it should not have been given to him. Is that what we are talking about now, that because somebody has "a little bit" of Down's syndrome or "a little bit" of autism and they are in a mainstream setting, they will be forgotten about? I am very concerned about this cohort, and I would appreciate it if the Minister of State could give us a little more direction in that regard.