Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I support the comments of my colleague Senator Kyne on the national children's hospital.

I would like a debate with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine on supports for the sheep sector, which is in very difficult circumstances. A wool feasibility report recommended the setting up of a wool council, but that has not happened. The reality is that we need further direct supports to restore confidence in the industry. Could we have a discussion with the Minister on the future of the sheep industry in Irish agriculture?

I have to hand a copy of a report of the Joint Committee on Autism on the summer programme for 2023.The report was passed at our public session earlier. It relates to changes we feel need to be made for the summer programme for 2023. The reality is that 36 out of the 130-odd special schools offered a school-based programme last year, which meant that only 14% of the children in our special schools got a school-based summer programme. We had situations where we had parents nearly advertising their kids online to try to get someone to do a home-based programme. The vast majority and a significantly high percentage did not get that programme and it is needed. We published this recommendation. I would ask that this would be debated prior to Christmas, if possible, in both the Dáil and the Seanad, because it is to be laid before both Houses. We need to discuss this now, with both Departments and with the Ministers of State with responsibility for special education and inclusion disability, Deputies Madigan and Rabbitte, respectively. We need these changes made in order to ensure that every child, and particularly the children with the highest level of need, get a school-based programme in 2023.