Sharon Keogan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I love to see legislation like this come before the House, legislation that is before us as a direct response to a problem we see in our country and how things are being done. The area of special education in our schools is a sensitive one. It is an area where we might be slow to act for fear of getting it wrong, but it is also an area that is so essential and so deeply personal to the parents, the children and the families whose lives are either blessed by access to an educational experience that is appropriate to their needs or needlessly burdened by the difficulties in achieving that for a member of their family who lacks it. Anyone who has taken the time to listen to parents whose child or children may have special educational needs knows how central it is to their lives that their school has the right supports for that child. It is night and day between a child who is surrounded by appropriate trained professionals who can use their expertise in teaching, nurturing and caring to allow that child to reach his or her fullest potential, and a child who, through no fault of their own, on account of their location, or age or the delivery of services, is deprived of this. That is why the move to ensure every child with special educational needs who requires a special class or special school placement gets one is a welcome step indeed.

The Minister, Deputy Foley, informed the Lower House earlier this month that the National Council for Special Education had advised that just over 100 children remained without an appropriate special educational needs placement for the coming school year. Each of those children has a name and a family. They have all been massively let down. I hope the shortening of the process to allow for schools to be directed to open additional classes, as contained in this Bill, will be an effective tool with which to tackle the problem. The risk, of course, is that directions can meet with bare minimums and delivery via a tick-box mentality. This must be avoided at all costs as it only results in driving the lack of care out of the official figures but not eliminating it in reality.

Schools must be directed to open additional classes but they must be provided with the necessary resources and trained staff. It is vital that all teacher training includes training for special needs education, from behavioural therapists to special needs assistants, SNAs, and from rooms with equipment to outdoor play and nature areas. If we are going to ask a school to step up to the plate in this way, we have got to put our money where our mouth is.If we were to poll all of Ireland and ask the people how the Government should spend tax money I guarantee that education would be on the finish podium. Let us do right by our children and take every step to get each child the care, support and education he or she needs. I am happy to support the Bill.