I thank you, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, and the Ceann Comhairle, for affording me the opportunity to raise this important issue.
My question concerns St. Angela's Language and Learning Unit, which was established in 1985 in a room in the community centre at the back of Donnybrook church. The unit was set up by a group of parents. It started with three children and is attendance increased to six children in June 1986. The parents put together a proper diagnostic and assessment team and, after continuous pressure from me and other Members, and particularly from the parents, the former Minister of State, Deputy Kenny, gave temporary recognition to the unit in September 1986.
I have been struck by the extraordinary opposition that has come from the Department of Education to the establishment of the unit, and I have first-hand knowledge of the opposition. Since the unit was established the Department have given no co-operation. In fact, closure was threatened each year. No speech therapist was appointed by the Eastern Health Board and no attempt was made by the Department to get one. Eventually, the parents, through fund raising activities, employed a speech therapist on a part-time basis.
After the Department recognised the unit it was transferred to Scoil Chaitríona, Baggot Street, but the enrolment was restricted to the six original children. Sister Patricia Mulcahy, M.Ed. Language and Learning Disability, a professional in her field — the only one in Ireland of which I am aware — and a highly qualified woman, undertook the task of teaching those children, initially without any payment from the Department. Sister Patricia was trained by the Ursuline Sisters in the United States at a cost to that order. She eventually took over the unit, again on a temporary basis. The unit had real success stories and some of the children involved have since gone on to second level mainstream education.
I became involved with the unit through a personal friend whose child had been assessed by a child psychiatrist as being mentally retarded and should be sent to an institution and forgotten about. The child psychiatrist advised the parents to have another child. The parents fought against that advice and established the unit. Today, that child is playing on the local football team and is undertaking second level education.
I raise the issue today because, unfortunately, the Department of Education have finally got their way and the unit is due to close in September next. Sister Patricia has been lost to the country. The Ursuline Sisters have become fed up and Sister Patricia has taken up work abroad.
The problem was highlighted on the "Gay Byrne Show" by Mrs. Rowena O'Connell, whose child gained access to the school through representations by myself and the good offices of the Minister for Education at the time, Deputy O'Rourke. I do not know if the Minister had an opportunity to hear Mrs. O'Connell on the "Gay Byrne Show". She was interviewed for about 45 minutes and expressed deep concern about the future of her child, the fact that the Department could not guarantee a place for the child and the backward step that the closure represented in so far as the progress that had been made could suddenly stop. Gay Byrne ran the story for about a week and the Minister for Health telephoned the show and offered the services of a speech therapist. Unfortunately, nothing has happened.
I tabled a parliamentary question on the issue and part of the reply I received read:
The requirements of children in the Dublin area with speech and language disorders were reviewed some time ago. A number of special classes for children with these disorders have been established in recent years in the Dublin area and these have been located in the areas of greatest identified need.
In the circumstances, it does not appear that the special class referred to is required at present and, accordingly, it will not continue in operation from September 1992.
The reply also stated that suitable alternative educational placements were being secured for the three pupils who were in the school.
On the most recent occasion on which I spoke to Mrs. O'Connell, one week or ten days ago, the Department of Education had not supplied a suitable place for her child, despite the fact that my parliamentary question was answered on 28 April 1992. I do not know why the Department are determined to get their way and close the unit, in view of the fact that Ireland is losing a highly specialised teacher in that field. We are losing a very valuable asset from an educational point of view.
My primary concern is for the wellbeing of the children who suffer from that disorder and disability. Many children with similar disorders may already have found their way into mental institutions and should never be there. The progress made by my friend's son demonstrates the extraordinary work done by Sister Patricia. That child once came into my office and hid behind a chair in the corner but today he is playing football and is an expert with computers.
I plead with the Minister to review the decision not to continue the unit and not to allow the services of Sister Patricia to disappear from this country.
