I thank you, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle, for selecting this matter on the Adjournment tonight. This is probably the most important issue raised in the Dáil today.
The Celtic tiger and the economic boom are of little relevance to the people in St. Bríd's special school. I visited the school last Friday week and met the chairperson, Marina Ryan. I must compliment her and the staff for the wonderful work they do for these people with disabilities. The class dealing with autistic children will be affected by the removal of the child care assistant from the school. Who is weaker in society than these children? Who should be helped more than these children?
On 17 December 1997, the Western Care Association informed St. Bríd's that it will be unable to provide funding for this post in 1998. The resources required for the provision of special education are the responsibility of the Department of Education and Science. The Western Care Association looks after many people in various parts of County Mayo, and there is a great demand for its services. It is not the responsibility of the Western Care Association to assist St. Bríd's special school; it is the responsibility of the Department.
The Minister is a compassionate man and has some understanding. He should not give the usual Civil Service reply tonight —that there are no resources and that this school will be the responsibility of the Western Care Association. A letter I received today from the Western Care Association stated that it will examine this matter again. How could a charitable organisation in County Mayo say it will not assist the people with disabilities in St. Bríd's special school? They would be run out of the county.
The Western Care Association has responsibilities to its own people and this matter is the responsibility of the Department of Education and Science. I call on the Minister to make the necessary resources available to retain this child care assistant.
The Western Care Association does an excellent job. In particular I want to compliment John
O'Dea, a director of the association in Mayo, and Liam McNally who is involved in fund raising. Their job is not to educate young people; that is the responsibility of the Department of Education and Science.
I visited St. Bríd's special school last week I want to compliment the principal, Paul Murphy, who is not well and to whom I extend best wishes. He is a kind and caring man. The assistant principal, Cathy Craughwell, is in charge at present and is doing an excellent job. It is wonderful the way people look after and try to educate those children.
This post involves a small amount of money. The Government collected £115 million more in revenue in December 1997 than expected. I am not looking for £115 million for St. Bríd's special school, but for a few thousand pounds to retain a child care assistant. The Minister should not heed the Civil Service or his officials. He should make a decision to give the school the money it requires. Who needs it more than these children?
This is not about a tax break or buying a third house; it is about the weakest in society, children in a school who need and get special care. What is required is for the Minister to show compassion and to sanction the allocation of a small amount of money. I know he will not let me down and that he will grant aid this post. I am not asking to set a precedent in this regard. This matter is the responsibility of the Department. This school should be given a few pounds to enable it continue its good work. Western Care Association is doing an excellent job and it will continue to raise funds because it has many people on waiting lists for its day care centres. The Department should deal with the education side and the Western Care Association should deal with what it is good at.
I ask the Minister not to put the gun to the head of John O'Dea or the Western Care Association because it is not in a position to give money to St. Bríd's special school. It did not give the school money in December because it did not have it. The association say this is the Minister's responsibility. I know he will respond positively because he is an honourable and decent politician. I ask him to make this money available. This issue will not make the headlines, but it is important to the children concerned. Having visited that special school I thanked God that my children were able to attend a national school. These children get special care and loving attention and I know the Minister will respond in the right way.