Supports for student with disability
Deputy McNamara contrasted hospital overruns with a young high-achieving student who had received recommended disability supports but still lacked a workable pathway to college. The Taoiseach said supports existed through universities and DARE/HEAR, invited the individual’s details, and also said no child should be left standing alone in a school yard.
On that issue, the Taoiseach's response to the cost overruns at the national children's hospital is to provide the hospital and then we will argue about the cost of it.
Comment on this
In any event, it is in marked contrast to the provision of services for children with disabilities. This week I was approached by the parents of a young man who is doing his leaving certificate this year. He is a high academic achiever but he is going nowhere because he can go nowhere without supports. In 2020 he was assessed and none of the interventions that was recommended has been provided. He will soon reach his 18th birthday and after that he does not have a legal right to supports and he cannot go on to third level education without some of the supports. Those parents are in the very east of the county. On the western seaboard of the county I was approached by the parents of a young child in infant class. They struggle every day to get him to go to school. It is a major struggle. They get him to school and he stands inside the gates alone, locked in his own world and he stays there for the day. They cannot even get him assessed. They are being referred from pillar to post, and from one service to another, despite the fact that early intervention is key to dealing with autism and is key to unlocking the potential of that young child, as it is for his leaving certificate counterpart. Supports are key to unlocking the potential of his leaving certificate counterpart on the other side of the county. Whatever moneys are provided they are not trickling down and services are not being provided. What hope will the Taoiseach offer to the parents of those children and to parents right across Clare and the country?
Comment on this
The supports are there. There are issues, and I do not doubt what the Deputy has raised, but there is a problem with whoever is organising stuff there.
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Let me please answer the question. Every university now has very strong disability supports. They are very strong and funding is provided to the universities and third level colleges for services for students who are visually impaired and right across the board, including technological services, to enable people with disabilities to access education.
The Deputy raised the matter of a specific individual and he can bring me the details.
Comment on this
That young person, if in a position to do so, should complete the leaving certificate, perhaps through the DARE or HEAR programmes. There are two programmes that will facilitate access to college and the backup supports in the relevant third level college. That support is there and I do not understand why the pathway has not been outlined to this young person. I will take this up with the Deputy afterwards.
The Deputy also raised the issue of a younger child. No child should be standing alone in the yard in any primary school and there is no necessity for that. I was in schools recently where children with severe and profound disabilities are in the classroom and are in the school. I can follow this up with the Deputy again.