Yesterday, Inclusion Ireland and AsIAm outlined their profound concern following a survey reporting that 35% of disabled children experience seclusion and 27% of disabled children suffer restraint at school. These are children who have been locked in rooms alone, dragged across floors or have been held or lifted against their will. Parents spoke of feeling powerless, in fear of retribution and the removal of vital supports for which they fought long and hard. There is little doubt that the lack of robust guidance and regulation is having a detrimental impact on children with a disability. The National Council for Special Education, NCSE, called for guidelines as far back as 2012, again in 2016 and again in 2018. Draft guidelines are currently with the Ombudsman for Children and Tusla for review, for input. Will the Government ensure these guidelines are child-centred, rights based, robust and enforceable? Children have a right to feel safe in school.

I was alarmed at the conclusions of the survey by AsIAm and Inclusion Ireland in respect of children in seclusion. Because of certain behaviours that are consequent on a particular condition that a child might have, the child is restrained in some shape or form, or the child is isolated. That speaks to a lack of multidisciplinary supports within the system-----

It speaks to a lack of guidelines.

Let me speak, please. You can have guidelines all you like. You can do all sorts of things but what it speaks to is that we have set systems of allocation of special education assistants, SNAs, and special education teachers, and they have expanded exponentially. I am not arguing politically. They just have expanded exponentially but in certain cases the schools involved may need additional multidisciplinary supports. In many cases these behaviours are challenging and difficult. In my view, the last resort should be seclusion side or the expulsion. I have come across children who have been expelled by a school, which is beyond comprehension for me.

Tánaiste, time is up.

However, the school will say it has huge challenges, etc., so what we need then is to analyse each case.

Time is up.

The NCSE should look at this.

It has been 14 years-----

I am trying to be helpful here.

-----and current guidelines-----

Please, Deputy. I thank the Tánaiste. Deputy Pringle is not with us. Deputy McNamara is next.