Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her outline. There is little doubt that this pandemic has probably had a greater impact on young adults, students and schoolchildren than any other element of society. There are, for sure, people whose incomes have been affected, who have lost their jobs and businesses, but in terms of real stress points, and there are many, the younger cohort has undergone the greatest degree of stress and pressure. Those young people did not have worldly experiences to assist them through it. There is little doubt that the area for which the Minister of State has responsibility has been a particular crunch point. We have seen that during the various lockdowns. There is no doubt that parents who have a child with special educational or additional needs are under enormous pressure. The normal supports that they might have had available to them, whether through grandparents or extended families, have been restricted because of people's inability to move between households.I am acutely aware, from speaking to the people who have been in touch with me, of the real pressure and trauma in households. I know of one family with three children with special needs, all of whom are on the autism spectrum. Anyone who has had experience of dealing with children with autism will see the pressure that is being put on families when that is multiplied by three in a Covid environment and total lockdown. There was much hope that children would be back to school earlier, but for various reasons, of which we are all now well aware, that did not happen. There is a great expectation now from parents that there will be a relatively quick return to the normal structure of education for children with special needs, insofar as there can be.

While the provision of 50% attendance is welcome, parents have communicated to me that they would prefer a half day five days a week rather than a full day every second day. For parents who work with children with special needs, particularly those on the autism spectrum, the notion of regularity and consistency in their routine is important. I accept where the Minister of State has had to get to but she might look at that. If we are to continue in this vein for a number of months, that suggestion should be looked at in order that they would have the same routine every day, even if it is for a number of hours rather than for the entire day. I acknowledge that there are complications relating to school transport and all that goes with it but that is something that needs to be addressed.

The Minister of State has identified a range of additional supports, which are welcome. As always, we would like to have more if possible because families have come through what in many cases is an intolerable burden. Parents have been taken to the brink of mental collapse. There is no doubt about that. That is something of which we need to be mindful as well. Any additional supports the Government can put in place for parents through access to personal counselling would be welcome. While that falls within the remit of another Department and the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, is making great advances in that area, the two areas are inextricably linked. We need to do more on that. I thank the Minister of State for what she has done to date and I wish her well.