Louth disability groups visit Dáil
Alexandra Jedrzejewska from All Abilities Action Alliance Louth and Paul Callan from Louth Disability Cycling were invited
Representatives from disability groups in Louth were in Leinster House last week to hear Sinn Féin TD Ruairí Ó Murchú speak on his party’s motion on disability services.
Alexandra Jedrzejewska from All Abilities Action Alliance Louth and Paul Callan from Louth Disability Cycling were invited by the Dundalk TD to hear the debate on Tuesday night.
In his contribution, Deputy Ó Murchú said a proper framework, around people with disabilities, their carers and wider families, was needed.
He said: “I welcome to the Public Gallery Alexandra Jedrzejewska from All Abilities Action Alliance Louth. I met with Ms Jedrzejewska, Eimear McNally and Brian Crilly in the last while.
“We spoke about the lack of school places, particularly in secondary schools, for kids with autism. It is a huge issue.
“Paul Callan from Louth Disability Cycling was here earlier as Iarnród Éireann was giving him an award. He is doing absolutely spectacular work alongside Variety’s Kevin O'Brien and others.
“My colleagues have spoken about the fact that we need to do right by the disability capacity review and follow up on the action plan.
"We have had the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Autism report and its recommendations. We know the issues in relation to respite, which we have dealt with before. We had our own Louth respite forum, which became a disability forum. However, it has fallen by the wayside with the HSE. We really need to see it in place.”
He also highlighted how, of the 18 secondary schools across County Louth, only nine have special classes.
He said: “I have dealt with a number of the teachers and principals across all of the schools and their issue is that they are dealing with the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, and with the Department and the building unit. This is where it falls down.
“We need to see real action across the board on the school inclusion model.”