Marie Sherlock (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her response and I understand that she understands the seriousness of the issue. Any of us who have dealt with families and children with a disability who are waiting know the distress involved. I understand what the HSE is doing across the country but not for the schools where there is already a good service in place and this had caused the greatest distress to me. There is already a good service in place and the HSE is seeking to remove that. So we are robbing Peter to pay Paul and we simply cannot allow that to happen. The Minister of State is right in that the Holy Family School for the Deaf is not an isolated school. The Carmona School in Glenageary was in contact and there are other schools across the country, including a school for the deaf in Cork.

I plead with the Minister of State and the Government because this is an education and health issue. It is not just a health issue. I understand that the HSE must do what it must do but I ask that the Government takes control and creates an initiative now to protect the education of these children. These children are in mainstream education. We need to protect that and ensure they do not suffer a loss because of a HSE action.