Sunday times article - 18 September 2011 - Backbencher rebels over autism policy

A FINE Gael backbencher is organising a nationwide campaign against her government's education policy on autism. Regina Doherty, a Meath East TD, will write to the parents of 4,000 autistic children to ask them to act against the approach taken by Ruairi Quinn, the education minister.

"I will be asking parents to put pressure on the government to change their policy," Doherty said. "I don't believe the department even has a policy on autism. It is giving a pretence of delivering a service, nothing more than that."

Doherty is representing parents in favour of implementing applied behavioural analysis (ABA), a specialist teaching method, in schools.

Quinn was strongly in favour of ABA while in opposition.

In February 2008 he called the previous government's rejection of the teaching method "an issue of major concern", saying the department's decision was "more to do with institutional rigidities and conservatism within the civil service than a real and open evaluation of the effectiveness of the ABA method".

In July, the Achieve ABA school in Donaghmede, Dublin, was forced to close after the state refused a request for funding. Daniel O'Mahony, a parent who helped set up the school, said the government had betrayed the trust of voters.

"Fianna Fail created this mess 10 years ago, but I'm flabbergasted Ruairi Quinn hasn't done anything to change it," O'Mahony said. "They told us they would support us. The only reason we kept the school going for the last year was because we were waiting for the new government, because they said they'd help us.."

Instead of ABA, Quinn is supporting the previous government's decision to create special classes for autistic pupils in mainstream schools. Doherty has claimed teachers of these classes are not properly qualified to carry out their duties. "The teachers are not being given any special training, apart from a three-day inservice course. You cannot become qualified in this very specialised teaching method in three days," said Doherty.

"These children are not getting the education they need, and they will start to regress.

When that happens, boards of management are going to be sued by parents for failing to provide their children with an education."

Doherty said she believed Quinn was still in favour of ABA, but had been conflicting views from his civil servants.

"I think he's getting bad advice from his department, and you're only as good as the advice you're getting," she said.

A spokeswoman for the department denied that it had no policy on autism. It said it was not accurate to say that teachers in special classes are not qualified to teach autistic children, because they were all qualified primary teachers.

"The department ... provides a comprehensive programme of continuing professional development," she said.

Doherty welcomes €367,811 in funding for Meath road maintenance

Fine Gael TD for Meath East has today (Friday) welcomed the increase in funding for Meath County Council to help maintain roads over the coming winter months.
“I am very pleased to hear that the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar, has allocated an extra €1.25 million to help local authorities around the country with winter maintenance and keeping roads clear during harsh weather. The total being allocated nationally comes to €11.25 million, with Meath County Council set to receive €367,811, an increase of €40,868.
“This is a clear example of the Minister planning ahead, in a bid to avoid some of the delay and disruption experienced during the snow and ice earlier this year and late last year. Many local authorities clearly struggled to keep main routes clear and gritted, much to the disgruntlement and disappointment of local people.
“The additional money being allocated this year is being made available thanks to savings within the Minister’s Department. Sixty thousand tonnes of salt is being directly purchased, which will be provided to local authorities on top of the supplies bought separately by the National Roads Authority. The extra €1.25 million will help to cover the cost of purchasing, transporting, storing and spreading salt, and other works associated with extreme weather conditions.
“If reports this week are to be believed, it looks like we could be in for another harsh cold snap in the coming months. This time around, the Government is putting contingency plans in place now. This means local authorities will have the power to react to tough conditions quickly, which will hopefully greatly reduce the disruption and difficulty experienced by members of the public.”

The Register of Electors

All Irish citizens over the age of 18 are entitled to vote at the Presidential Election but only if they are on the Register of Electors for their area.  The Register of Electors is maintained by the relevant Local Authority and it is important to make sure that you are on the register for your area.  You should verify this even if you have voted in previous elections since errors do occasionally happen and could prevent you being able to cast your vote.
You can check the register online at CheckTheRegister.ie where it will only take a minute to make sure you are registered.
People who are eligible to vote but who are not registered as electors still have time to apply for entry in the supplement to the register of electors to be published before polling day and so be able to vote on 27 October 2011. Application forms can be downloaded from http://www.checktheregister.ie/ or can be obtained from City and County Councils.  To be eligible for inclusion in the supplement to the register a person must be an Irish citizen, must be 18 years of age by polling day and must be ordinarily resident in the State.
Applications for inclusion in the supplement must be signed in the presence of and witnessed by a member of the Garda Siochana or, if the person cannot attend their local Garda Station, by an official of their County or City Council provided they state the reason why they were unable to attend a Garda station. If, because of a physical illness or physical disability, a person cannot attend either their local Garda Station or their County or City Council, their application form must be accompanied by a medical certificate. The final date for the receipt of completed supplement application forms by the relevant City or County Council is 10 October 2011.

Gaelscoil na Mi opens its Doors Today

Deputy Regina Doherty today (Thursday 1st September) attended the official opening of Gaelscoil na Mi.
 
The official opening and rising of the flag took place at the Gaelscoil’s temporary home beside the clubhouse in Donaghmore/Ashbourne GAA club, Ashbourne Co. Meath
“For the 40 Junior and Senior infant pupils of the new Gaelscoil na Mi this is a very exciting day” says Doherty  “So far the Gaelscoil caters for Junior and Senior infant classes and expected to grow in the future. We have been campaigning for the establishment of Gaelscoil na Mi for a very long time and I am personally delighted today.”
“It is fantastic to see efforts to keep the Irish language alive with the establishment of another Gaelscoil in the area. I wish the pupils and teachers the best of luck for the coming school year”

Finally some positive news for Homeowners

Meath East TD Regina Doherty has today spoken with Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan TD regarding the decision by Homebond to withdraw all offers and further support from any homeowner covered by their company relating to pyrite claims.
Following the conversation Deputy Doherty can confirm that the Minister has agreed to set up a task force to tackle the issue of pyrite claims by homebond homeowners.
“This task force is expected to consist of members of all parties concerned with the pyrite issue. It is anticipated that the Department of the Environment will issue terms of reference to the task force as to the outcome expected and it will be up to the members of said task force to achieve this.”
“This confirmation from the Minister is finally some positive news for worried homeowners. This news will not solve problems just yet, but at least it will go some way to easing the minds of those whose houses were damaged by pyrite. The Minister has said that he will issue further details in the coming weeks.”

Oireachtas Health and Children Committee visit Ireland’s First Children’s Hospice, LauraLynn House

Deputy Regina Doherty along with colleagues from the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children were today given a tour of Ireland’s first Children’s Hospice, LauraLynn House, in the grounds of the Children’s Sunshine Home in Leopardstown. The Home will officially open in September.
Deputy Doherty says “the committee and I were both incredibly impressed and humbled with the huge amount of work that has gone into creating this important place.” Philomena Dunne, CEO of the Children’s Sunshine Home said “We are delighted to be working so closely with both the committee members and the new government on the opening of LauraLynn House in September. So much hard work and dedication has been put into this project and it is wonderful to receive this recognition.”
LauraLynn House will provide community-based paediatric palliative and respite care in a unit designed and built specifically for this purpose. The house has eight bedrooms each with an en-suite facility and comfortable living accommodation. Family apartments will enable families to come and stay and be near their child. The team caring for children and their families includes Medical Director, Consultant Paediatrician, Nursing Team, Physiotherapists, Dietician, Social Worker, Speech & Language Therapist, Chaplain and Volunteers.
“This is a fantastic and much needed facility for the parents and children alike, I would like to congratulate all those involved in the construction” says Doherty. 

With September, comes and new and improved Dáil

Regina Doherty TD today (21st July) welcomes the motion before the Dáil to reform the way in which business is carried out. The reforms introduced aim to make the Dáil chamber more efficient and effective.

“This is the first phase in a programme of Dáil Reform to be introduced over the lifetime of this Government” says Doherty.

Today, the last day of sitting before the summer recess, a motion was put before the house by Fine Gael Chief Whip, Minister Paul Kehoe TD who stated that when TD’s return on September 14th 2011, they will return to a different Dáil, with different rules and improved procedures.

Key changes that will be implemented, which are warmly welcomed by Deputy Regina Doherty TD are the more active role Ministers will take in answering questions put to them and the introduction of Topical Issue Debates in place of the current Adjournment Debates.  

Deputy Doherty believes “the introduction of a procedure to allow Dáil Deputies to raise issues regarding replies to Parliamentary Questions will give TD’s greater opportunity to engage with Ministers in a more effective manner.”

Deputy Doherty goes on to say “These reforms, especially the introduction of the Topical Issue debates earlier in the day will encourage greater public engagement. Reforms introduced will also mean that there will be a greater onus on the Ministers concerned to be present in order to answer the issues raised in these debates.”

Further reforms introduced today involve The Dáil commencing earlier on a Tuesday at 2pm. Perhaps the most significant change in the schedule of the Dáil is the introduction of an extra sitting day. The Dáil, when it returns in September, will sit for an extra day on the first Friday of every month to allow TD’s to introduce their own Bills.

“For 14 years of Fianna Fail led governments, we have been promised reform in how we conduct our business. After 4 months of Fine Gael, we deliver .This is a real change and is a very positive move that is in line with our programme for Government.”

Shine Victims will finally get some answers

Deputy Regina Doherty announces this evening that Minister James Reilly, responding to her question  today at the Health & Children Committee meeting, has agreed  to establish an Oireachtas enquiry for the victims of Dr. Michael Shine.

“The Minister has promised that there will be a full enquiry into the Michael Shine case and all that were affected by it.  For so long now, the people at the centre off this issue have been left with so many unanswered questions. When the planned referendum this October is passed, it will allow the Dail Committee to compel witnesses before it and a full enquiry can take place..

Minister Reilly stated the issue was about the abuse of patients and he believed that patients had suffered as a result of not being able to air matters and be believed.

Doherty stated  “This enquiry will in no way mend the harm that was done by Dr Michael Shine and the subsequent treatment of victims, but it will go some way to giving those individuals involved some sort of  relief.”

I have only been involved with Dignity 4 Patients for the past 5 months, but I am particularly pleased to have assisted in some small way to help achieve their goal.

Investment in library services can only help literacy rates

Regina Doherty TD today welcomes the announcement by Minister for the Environment Heritage and Local Government that 5.8million has been allocated for new Capital Programme for local Libraries in Ireland.

The aim of this programme is to provide a range of facilities for Local Library services including refurbished premises and mobile libraries. It is estimated that €4.8million will be spend on existing library upgrades in 2011 with a further €1million being distributed used to purchase new stock for libraries.

Navan library is set to benefit from this injection of funds and has been allocated a sum of €100,000.

Deputy Doherty states “Investment in local library services is imperative and an extremely welcome announcement. By investing locally in resources like these it benefits not only individuals but communities as a whole.”

“Library services in Meath include everything from language and computer courses to book and homework clubs. This wide range of services all members of the community; those who are seeking work and those who want a social outlet and academic support.”

“More and more people are frequenting and availing of local library services, over the past year 16million visits were recorded in local libraries around Ireland. Investing in reading material and support services offered can only but benefit individuals and tackle the issue of illiteracy in Ireland. It is very positive news.”

National Paediatric Hospital Review

The Minister for Health, on 6 July 2011, announced that the National Children’s Hospital will be located on the campus of the Mater Hospital, Dublin.  This follows an independent expert review which in commissioned in May.  An application for planning permission will now be submitted to An Bord Pleanála.

The report, which carried out a detailed comparison of the costs of providing the hospital on alternative sites, and an analysis of the clinical benefits involved, is unanimous in its recommendation in favour of the existing site.

It concludes that the cost of developing the facility there is similar to the costs which would be incurred if the project was provided on any of the alternatives examined.  The report gives ‘unanimous and unequivocal support’ for the Mater site.

The Government will make a final decision on proceeding with the project in the context of its overall review of capital spending, which will be completed in September.

In the meantime, the Minister for Health has called on the three children’s hospitals in Dublin to work very closely together, and to continue their discussions on forming a single governance structure well in advance of the opening of the new hospital.

The Programme for Government contains a commitment to building the National Children’s Hospital.  It is the Government’s intention to achieve the best possible clinical outcome for children within the resources available.