Erin McGreehan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

It is laughable that we are piloting accessible and inclusive education. The Minister of State said things have changed and there are digital papers. We need papers in Braille. We need to consider all of our students. The current system is restrictive and there is no flexibility. Students with disabilities are not a homogenous group. Reasonable accommodations for one are completely irrelevant for another. There needs to be an individualisation of accommodation for students. That would allow students to thrive, not just survive and get by in school.

By looking at what a student needs, we can identify what is needed, such as extra time between or while doing exams. A child has the audacity to have ambition and the cheek to want to go to college and do better. We are 12 months out from the next leaving certificate. Please do not have us or somebody else standing here next year speaking about obstacles or highlighting them on television when Niamh is being disadvantaged during her leaving certificate. Not many visually impaired or blind students do exams every year. Surely the State, with all its resources, can pull together to make sure we change the system.