I am delighted to have the opportunity to raise on the Adjournment the plight of 14 children in the Cork area whose cases are sadly similar to many others throughout the country. I am disappointed that the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Martin, is not present. I am informed that he is due to meet the parents in Cork on 9 January. I look forward to that meeting.
The 14 children in this group, whose parents have formed the Early Childhood Services Parent Group, suffer from severe learning difficulties. Some of the children are autistic, some have autistic tendencies, and the remaining children have equally severe learning problems.
These children range in age from three to five years of age, and their problem is that educational services are not available to them. There is an excellent facility available for such children in the Cork region at Scoil Trieste. Unfortunately, the numbers it can accommodate are limited. I am informed that most of these children will be unable to get a place at Scoil Trieste. There is no other appropriate educational facility for these children.
The problems faced by children suffering from autism throughout the country have been featured on RTÉ programmes in recent days. We have a duty as an Oireachtas and as a nation to respond favourably. The Celtic tiger may be roaring, but when there are so many disadvantaged students not just in one county but throughout the country we must invest in the appropriate educational structures to ensure their needs are met. Most of these children will have a healthy, bright future if they are looked after through the proper educational channels. We will write off their future if we do not provide a proper teaching system and schools. This would be unfair and immoral. My request on behalf of the Early Childhood Services Parent Group in County Cork applies to many other similar groups. It is important that proper educational facilities and an adequate number of places and teachers are made available at the earliest possible date. I look forward to the Minister's meeting with the group in Cork on 9 January and hope he gives me positive news on the Government's proposals in this area.