Matthew McGrath urges urgent support for locked-in students
Deputy Matthew McGrath spoke about the impact of the Covid lockdown on young people with intellectual disabilities and urged urgent support for those ‘‘locked up’’ in their homes. He welcomed the expanded July provision but warned a cohort of severely affected students remains without services and is experiencing regression and self-harm.
Immediate concern
McGrath highlighted a cohort of young men and women with intellectual disabilities who he says have been profoundly affected by the lockdown. He cited a personal connection in his parish and referred to a heartfelt story shared on Facebook about "Little Jack on Sunday" to illustrate the distress.
Daily routines disrupted
He described how trips to special schools on buses with carers and the daily interaction with classmates and staff have ceased for many of these students. He urged everyone involved - boards of management, workers and teaching staff - to recognise the severity of the situation.
Reported harms
McGrath warned of serious consequences including self-harm and a regression of progress achieved through special schools and tuition. He said the cohort has been "incarcerated in their houses" and needs immediate support because they are "really trapped."
Government response noted
He welcomed the July provision and the expansion of this year's summer provision, which the Taoiseach said has been increased in school-based and home-based provision and in the extension and expansion of desh schools. The Taoiseach also noted that the Minister for Education was sanctioned by Cabinet to make provision for post-primary children with Down syndrome who had previously been outside the scheme, allowing them to participate.
Requests for follow-up
McGrath asked the Minister for Disabilities and the Government to act for this cohort, and the Taoiseach requested details. The Taoiseach asked McGrath to forward examples of the schools or cohorts affected so the Government can respond to those who remain without access to the July provision.
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Deputy Matthew McGrath Many people have been affected by the Covid lockdown, and we've dealt with some of them here today, and indeed I welcome the July provision. But there's a cohort of people out there, young men and women with intellectual disabilities, and I have one in my own, a couple in my own parish, but one story was shared on Facebook, Little Jack on Sunday. And it's heartfelt, it's heartbreaking. It's unbelievable. I welcome the July provision, but this cohort of people don't have anything. And then their trips to their special schools on the bus with their carers, I say, everybody involved in the boards of management and everybody in the workers and teaching staff. Can you do something, your government do something, the Minister of Disabilities, for this cohort of people who are profoundly affected, and it's locked up and incarcerated in their houses. They need to be able to get out and interact with their, you know, other colleagues going to those special schools. And they're very severely impacted, and we can see self-harm, we can see huge impacts or regress of their progress that they've had in those special schools and special tuition. They need support immediately. They just have been incarcerated for too long, and they're really trapped. Thank you. Taoiseach. Taoiseach. Taoiseach. Taoiseach. I would share your distress and concern about this situation. I would like if you could forward to me the example of the schools in question or the cohort of students. This year's summer provision, July provision, has been expanded significantly over previous years, both in terms of school-based provision, in terms of home-based provision, in terms of the extension and expansion of desh schools, for example. And yesterday, the Minister for Education, or Monday, sorry, got sanctioned from Cabinet to make provision for post-primary children with Down syndrome, who had just previously been outside of the scheme, and they're now in a position to participate. So we would be anxious to respond to any cohort of children who, for one reason or another, as you have articulated, do not have access to the July provision. So I'd appreciate it if you could send on the details to my office. Michael McNamara. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
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