Seán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State is welcome to the House and I join others in wishing him well in his term ahead. It is an important area and one he has an interest in and passion for. I wish him well in all our interests but most importantly the interests of the children with special needs and their parents.

I acknowledge the Sinn Féin motion. It is important to have a debate on this topic. Fine Gael and the Government more widely are acutely aware of the importance of education to the people of this country. For generations, successive Governments have looked on education as a fundamental right for everybody, not just a few, and as a means of increasing knowledge and the prosperity of the country. We have a good track record with our students and graduates who get a good start and go through university, as well as a tolerant society based on a high-quality, accessible education system that has been the envy of many countries and has consistently produced sought-after graduates.

New school buildings have been a priority in the past and the result is there for all to see across the country. We have built a large number of schools and school extensions and, as a result of this investment, the number of prefabs has declined dramatically. There is, of course, a need to do more as our population and the needs of pupils continue to grow and we have plans in place to do that. In the specific area of special education, we are now spending almost €3 billion - a 48% increase in funding since 2020 - and providing another 400 special classes and 300 additional special school places this year. Sixteen new special schools are being established, all to ensure every child who needs a special place has one.

We are also providing funding for the training and upskilling of teachers and SNAs who support children with special needs. The Minister for Education, Deputy McEntee, has requested the inclusion of a placement in a special needs setting for all teachers doing their teaching education. This is a positive proposal and I commend the Minister of State and Government for their role in that as well.

I want to mention the Ábalta Special School in Galway that has gone through huge challenges in trying to find a suitable alternative site. We have parents travelling all the way from Ennis in County Clare to Galway city for the Ábalta Special School, which is a significant challenge. Initially, there were plans to move to Clarinbridge and the GRETB has now taken over patronage of that school. In conjunction with the Educate Together school in Oranmore, it has plans to locate on that campus, which is welcome. Ábalta provides an important service to parents in Galway and elsewhere and the ETB is going to increase the number of pupils within that school, which is welcome.

As part of its amendment, the Government is calling to ensure every child who needs a space in special education will have one. Finding school places is stressful, particularly under our current system. Some places may have different models but the application process to find a school can be quite difficult. This can be even more stressful when a child has additional needs.There are often delays with the application process and in the context of decisions being made, which can be stressful, particularly for the pupils. It is important that we liaise and engage with parents to achieve the best outcomes for their children and reduce the burden on parents so that they know what lies ahead in their children's educational journeys. Certainty is important. It is important that parents know what is ahead and where their children will be going so they can ensure that places are available. As a result of the severity of their additional needs, some children cherish and need routine. They need to know where they are going and what is ahead of them. They need to know how to travel there, what time to leave the house, what time to come home, who else is on the bus and whatever else. Those are all important details for children with additional needs. We and they need that certainty.

We need to continue to invest in buildings, staff, facilities and therapy services, all of which are important. The summer programme has been successful and it is important we continue to expand it. That is mentioned in the proposal. It has been of great benefit to children and their parents. I welcome the commitment to continue the programme. The support for additional summer school places is welcome. I am not sure if figures are available to show whether demand is matching supply. Are we achieving that or are children being left without? That is important. It is also important for us to look at the range of other factors called for in the motion.

I welcome, in particular, the renewed focus of the Government on the area of disability. When we have the resources, it is important that we look at those who are the most vulnerable, in need and deserving. Special children and their families, who have a lot of challenges, deserve the very best from society and Government, and that will require investment. I welcome the proposals that have been put forward by the Government in the amendment to the motion.