I thank the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise this matter on the Adjournment which is so urgent that I cannot engage in prolonged correspondence with the Minister for Education. A decision must be taken now about this boy's future.
The child in question is six year old Stephen Creighton and, to date, he has not had a single formal day in school or received the advantages of a formal education. For exactly one year the local Barnardo's brought him through its pre-school programme but, unfortunately, this year Stephen was too old to join the pre-school group. The boy's mother and grandmother told me they have tried everything possible to have Stephen placed in an appropriate school which caters for his needs, including speech therapy. There is a suggestion that Stephen may be mildly mentally handicapped but his family reject that view. They told me he is on the low end of the intelligence scale but there is no confirmation or indication as yet that he is mildly mentally handicapped.
Regarding the intention of placing him in a school which could provide speech therapy, the family approached two local schools only to be told by Scoil Chiaráin and a school in Chapelizod that they did not have speech therapy facilities and could not accept Stephen. He was sent to St. Vincent's on the Navan Road and his parent was content to bring him to that school if it could cater for him. As the Minister is aware, St. Vincent's is a school for the mentally handicapped and, unfortunately, Stephen's reaction to his placement there was extremely disruptive. He was badly affected by being placed in that environment. His mother and the school principal would say that he was inappropriately placed for his needs because he was very distressed.
The Minister will agree that every child, irrespective of their ability, is entitled to an education. I spoke to the counsellors in the child and family centre in Castleknock and, although they did not give me a report of their assessment of Stephen, I understand they submitted a comprehensive report to the Minister. I have the impression they suggested to the Minister that this is an urgent case. In view of the facts I have outlined and my meetings with Stephen, who is a fine young boy, and his mother and grandmother, I ask the Minister to urgenly find an appropriate place for this young man so that Santa Claus can bring him what he wants and he can start in his new school after Christmas.
