Special education centres
Deputy Gannon warned that families feared “special education centres” meant segregation rather than integration and sought reassurance no child would be excluded. The Tánaiste restated that mainstreaming and integration are the Government’s policy, while noting some special schools are still necessary.
Returning to the issue of special education centres, I agree that language is important. Can the Tánaiste imagine the shudder of fear that went through families with children with special or additional needs last night when they heard the phrase "special education centres"? The Government asks us for our trust. The Tánaiste says the policy is integration, yet the practice now seems to be segregation. I will ask the Tánaiste straight out: can he promise me, the Chamber and families at home who are looking on with fear that over the coming months and years no child with a special or additional need will be placed into a prefab or an underused building? The Tánaiste talks about policy, but this cannot be the practice. Each week, we in the Dáil see children come to us with their families seeking school places or wheelchairs. Children and families have for too long had to strive for their basic needs when it comes to the vindication of their disability rights. They have absolutely no trust when they hear "special education centres" that it will not mean segregation. It simply will not be stood for.
Comment on this
I understand the concern and understand how parents must have felt last night when they heard language used that their children would be offered a stopgap solution. No parent wants to hear that. The Government's commitment and policy on this is clear. As I mentioned earlier, 300 special classes opened in mainstream schools last year. The Minister has the power to require schools to provide additional mainstream classes. The policy is one of integration and mainstreaming. Sometimes other solutions are necessary. Sometimes special schools are required. We had to open one in my constituency. That was a big improvement for the children who used the school and who had previously been in home tuition. Today there will be a meeting involving the stakeholders at which there will be proper information and proper consultation. I would prefer to let that happen rather than my adding further confusion. I think that that meeting is happening now, and it is important that it proceed.