Special needs unit placement
Deputy Murphy O’Mahony raised a child’s long journey to a special needs unit despite a nearer unit being available. The Taoiseach said it appeared common sense for the child to attend the nearest unit and offered to have the case followed up.
Ba mhaith liom ceist a chur ar an Aire Oideachais agus Scileanna, ach níl se i láthair. Mar sin, cuirfidh mé an cheist ar an Taoiseach. I am dealing with the case of a child with special needs who is expected to make a two-hour round trip to attend a special needs unit in a nearby town when there is a special needs unit in the town where she lives and where her friends go to school. Why can children not attend the special needs unit nearest to where they live rather than have to travel long distances to another unit? I have sent the details of this case to the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy McHugh, and I can send them on to the Taoiseach. I do not name people in the House. It does not make sense that this child has to travel to a special needs unit in a nearby town when there is a unit in the town where she lives. This child's special needs are such that her parents often have to attend the school, which impacts on their working lives.
Comment on this
Níl an tAire anseo, mar a dúirt an Teachta. The Deputy has raised an individual case and I cannot comment on it. I do not have the details but it would seem to be common sense that the child should be able to attend the special needs unit nearest to her but there may be particular reasons I am not aware of. If the Deputy passes on the details of the case, I will make sure it is followed up.