That was not a speech I read out. It was my own summary. I took the pertinent points and summarised them. It was not word for word.

It is a different sheet I read from, compared to the opening statement I was given by the Department. I will take the points from the opening statement I was given. The Senator will appreciate I am not in the Department of Transport and am doing my best to try to disseminate the information to him. As a ten-year plan, the NDP was scheduled for review in 2022. The Government has brought forward that review by a year and the NTA is working closely with Meath County Council to undertake a comprehensive assessment of t…

I thank the Acting Chairman. I thank Members for the interest they have shown in this Bill and their contributions yesterday and today. This is an important Bill. Its core aim is to improve communication and engagement within the whole school community. It is important that students, parents and school staff are part of a school environment and culture that are inclusive, connected and transparent in how they listen to the views of all and communicate information and decisions on many important matters relating to …

I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Education, Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, pursuant to Standing Order Nos. 95(3)(a) and 181(1).

I thank the Deputy for setting out what is, in his view, the chronological series of events in this case. Some of the timeline he gave is correct but I will give him a different view on a number of points. It is important to stress the Government takes the care and consideration of children with additional needs very seriously. The Deputy noted that finance is not the only issue to be considered. Funding is important, nevertheless, because it will help to build the schools we need for children with additional needs…

We agree regarding the temporary nature of the proposed move of Danu Community Special School to Riversdale Community College. However, this is still phase 1 of the process and not phase 2, which will involve the review of which I spoke concerning long-term needs. I have no doubt that the consideration of other possible sites, as mentioned by the Deputy, will be taken into account in that regard. As I said, however, Riversdale Community College has a great deal of space and land in its environs and I see no reason …

One question that very few would be brave enough to ask me is how old I am. If you did, however, I would say that I am young enough to be a working mother of two teenage boys and I am committed to public service and was privileged to have been appointed not just as Ireland’s 19th female member of Cabinet but also Ireland’s first female lawyer at Cabinet. However, in terms of this debate, I would say that I am old enough to know that there are very few women my age who have not been subjected to some form of sexual …

I am not aware that I am sharing time.

I apologise.

Apologies. That is fine.

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach.

Before I respond to Senator O'Loughlin, I congratulate Senator Flynn on the passage of Second Stage of the Traveller Culture and History in Education Bill 2018 in the Dáil last week. It is important Traveller culture and history is embedded within the education sector. I thank Senator O'Loughlin for raising this important matter. The needs of children with special educational needs and children at most risk of educational disadvantage are a huge priority for the Government. As correctly pointed out by the Senator, …

I understand what the Senator is saying. However, it is important to note that the summer provision is an additional service provided by schools. Teachers, special needs assistants, SNAs, and support staff work hard all year so it is not something we can mandate. All we can do is ask and encourage schools and, as I said, remove those barriers. This year we allowed flexibility in the time so that it is no longer the July provision and the service can also be provided in August. They are paid in advance, there is a c…

I thank the Deputy for her question. I note what she has said about the school inclusion model. It does give the appropriate supports to children with additional needs and it is best practice. It is based on the principle of providing the right educational, care and therapeutic supports at the right time for children with special education needs. Its purpose is to help these students achieve better education and life outcomes. The policy is based on evidence-based advice provided by the National Council for Special…

It is important to stress that the school inclusion model vis-à-vi s the therapeutic supports it will provide in school is not in lieu of HSE therapeutic supports but is to complement them. I am working on the assessments and waiting times for those assessments with the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte. The Deputy has referred to the selection of a region and specifically mentioned Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim and Cavan. To know what the working group will take into account in terms of criteria, it may be helpful for …

I do not disagree with the Deputy. This school inclusion model will make a significant difference. I will bring the Deputy's comments and contribution on the availability of therapists to the attention of the Minister of State with responsibility in this area, Deputy Rabbitte. Returning to the criteria for this region, it is important that there should be no overlap with existing in-school speech and language pilot projects. There should be capacity to co-ordinate with existing HSE services and to bring all schools…

I thank Deputy Niamh Smyth for the question. One of my stated action priorities is to support and develop the assistive technology scheme to ensure it is of most benefit to those who need it. This is something I am considering as the Minister of State responsible. As we know, specialist equipment is required by some children with more complex special educational needs to access the curriculum properly and to participate in school learning activities. For this purpose, funding was provided to schools under the assis…

Deputy Smyth is correct in stating the diagnosis is joint hypermobility syndrome. It is simply a matter of meeting the criteria demanded and required of this application process. The original application stated that her handwriting was good, for example. There was an element about her experiencing tiredness and issues in respect of carrying her school bag. If the criteria specifically relating to the physical or communicative disability are outlined with recommendations from a professional assessment, including the…

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for her clarifying comments around the identity of the child that Deputy Smyth named. While I have not named the child, I am aware of the application. Once the criteria are set out, the appeal will be fully reviewed by the NCSE and the Department. Ultimately, the purpose of the scheme is to provide grant aid to schools to allow them to prioritise the type of specialist equipment recommended by the NCSE as being essential for those who have a physical, sensory or communicative disab…

We wish all those students the best of luck today. I also take this opportunity to congratulate you personally, Acting Chairman, on your recent election back to the Seanad.