Eileen Flynn (Independent)

I thank the Minister of State for being here this morning to address what I believe is a very important issue that was raised recently by the journalist Maria Delaney, a reporter with The Journal. Her report showed that the number of pupils on reduced timetables has increased to 1,275. This is something that is very close to my heart as someone from the Traveller community who came through the education system, was put down at the back of the class for Irish and was taken out when there was a Traveller teacher, who was not a member of the Traveller community, and who went through special education, which every member of the Traveller community received whether they needed or not in the school I attended in Ballyfermot. For me, seeing this report is frightening, as it is for young members of the Traveller community and for children with additional needs. The report talks about children with autism who are also impacted by the reduced timetables.

In the past five years I have been a Member of this House, I have sat on the education committee. We have seen numerous reports in which members of the Traveller community and children who are autistic are put at a disadvantage in this country. We need to be moving away from that. What is the Department doing to stop children from the Traveller community, the Roma community and children who are autistic from being on these reduced timetables? I understand some children need to be on reduced timetables. That is understandable. I was an SNA and I know all about behaviours and so forth. A child should not be denied an education because of his or her behaviour, however. I see this issue arise many times on the halting site in Labre Park, Ballyfermot. Mothers are coming to me saying that their child can go into school for one hour and then come home. The parents do not know what to do with the young people for the day. They have no supports at home. When is this going to change? It is the children on the margins of society who are impacted again. While 1,275 may be a small number, it is a lot of children from a population that makes up 1% of Irish society. It is also a big number of children with additional needs. What is the Department going to do to resolve this issue and inequality for these children?