Every Child With Special Education Needs Must Have Access To Summer Programmes, Says Kildare Senator

Senator Mark Wall has called on Government to ensure that there's at least one school offering the programme in every town.

Next year every child with Special Education Needs must have access to the July/Summer programme, according to Kildare Senator Mark Wall.

The Labour Senator for Kildare South has called on Government to ensure that every child with special education needs has access to next year’s July programme.

Hel proposed that there should be at least one school offering the programme in every town in the state and called on Government to ensure that this happens.

Senator Wall commented: “From cost of assessment to respite, school places, transport, and employment, I am dealing with so many families that are having daily difficulties."

He pressed the Minister for State Anne Rabbitte to look at a centralised system that would ensure at least one school in each large town offering the programme by bringing all the Schools together in that town and ensuring that one would be in a position to provide the programme.

He stated that he had been contacted by a large number of families whose loved ones did not have an option to take part in the programme this year.

Senator Wall stated that routine was vital to these young children and families were suffering because routine was interrupted, and families had no options for their young children.

He also raised the cost of assessments for so many families and how some families were not able to pay privately for an assessment.

He called on the Government to assist families in such cases to at least ensure that such an assessment could be carried out. In reply, Minister Rabittee stated that the Department were looking at a scheme to assist families in such cases.

Senator Wall added: "It is time we took these issues seriously in this state and I will continue to raise the matters raised with me through this committee and in our debates with Government representatives and those representing Autistic persons.

"These families need a voice at Oireachtas level, and I hope this committee will provide a vehicle to provide that," he added.

Senator Wall was speaking at the Oireachtas Autism Committee of which he is a member.