I would like to thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this very serious matter. On 30 June I asked the following question of the Minister for Education: "if he will outline the circumstances in which a 17 year old person (details supplied) has not received any formal education since before his thirteenth birthday and if he will make a statement on the matter." The reply was: "I am having the matter raised by the Deputy investigated and I will advise him of the outcome as soon as possible".
First, let me give the facts as I understand them. My constituent was born in December 1974, so he will be 18 years old in December 1992. The last time he received formal education was in December 1987, just short of his 13th birthday. That was over four and a half years ago and more than two years short of the compulsory education age. My constituent has suffered from epilepsy since he was four or five years old. At first he was assessed as mildly handicapped, then as moderately handicapped.
The letter to his parents from his last school, dated 21 December, 1987 stated:
At our school board of management meeting today, December 21st, 1987, the situation regarding ... was discussed at length. Many factors were taken into consideration — his needs, the safety and welfare of students and staff in the school, the existing staffing of the school. It was the unanimous decison of the board, having considered each of the above, to discharge him from the school.
I would like to say that this decision, was only reached after a lengthy discussion of all aspects of his case. We are notifying the Department of Education and the school inspector accordingly.
His parents have made strenuous efforts over the years to have him placed in suitable education and continue to this day to make strenuous efforts, including coming to me just over two weeks ago. I have a letter, dated 11 March, 1988, from the Association for Children and Adults with Learning Difficulties in reply to a letter from the mother. She was constantly writing to the then Minister for Education, Deputy O'Rourke, and to another Deputy in this House. For example, I have a letter here from the Minister, dated 30 November, 1988, where reference is made as follows: "your further letter of 22 November, 1988". Over that long period of time she was being informed by a Minister and a Deputy that "the Minister is having inquiries made and a further letter will be sent to you as soon as possible". Indeed, it is no different really from the reply I received last week.
The State, Sir, has responsibility to provide education, to make education available, and education is compulsory up to 15 years of age. I accuse the State of being negligent in its responsibility to provide education for my constituent and in so doing I also lay responsibility on the Department of Education, the then Minister, Deputy O'Rourke, and now the current Minister, Deputy Brennan. As a so-called caring society we have a special responsibility to look after the less fortunate in our society and this includes those who are handicapped. I want an explanation and I want the situation remedied on behalf of my constituent and his parents, even at this late stage. He and his parents are determined that he should receive the education to which he was and is entitled.
A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, I am conscious of the fact that unfortunately my time is running out and I am not able to say at this stage what I strongly feel I should be saying in relation to this matter. I will just say in conclusion that no matter how severely handicapped a child is, he or she can be educated and is entitled to education in the same way as any other child. My constituent was and is only moderately handicapped, so there are no excuses at all. I demand justice for my constituent from the Minister and his Department.
