’Champion story helps make point to minister

A Clare Champion story highlighting the expenditure of an estimated €1,800 a week to transport two West Clare teenagers with special needs by taxi to a special needs school in Ennis has been presented to Education Minister, Ruairí Quinn.
Deputy Pat Breen confirmed he presented Minister Quinn with a copy of the story highlighting the inconvenience and cost of transporting teenagers with special needs to Ennis because of the lack of a suitable facility in their locality.
Isabelle Sequin, 14, who has Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and epilepsy, is completing a round trip of 130 kilometres three days a week, while her twin sister, Clara, goes to school in St Joseph’s Community College, Kilkee.
Isabelle stays in an Enable Ireland house on Wednesday nights to reduce the impact of travelling from Carrigaholt to Ennis on her condition.
Another pupil with ASD is being collected by the same taxi from Moyasta while it is understood another pupil is picked up along the way to Ennis.
Deputy Breen told The Clare Champion he presented a “strong case” for the provision of a fully resourced special needs unit in Kilkee to Minister Quinn.
Isabelle’s father, Pat Gavin and mother, Danielle Sequin, have been campaigning for the establishment of a proper ASD unit in West Clare for over two years.
Mr Gavin recalled a commitment was made over a year ago by former Education Minister Mary Coughlan to open a special needs unit in Kilkee.
“What has happened since then? I am not interested in any more meetings, I want action. I am becoming increasingly concerned that this special needs unit will not be provided in Kilkee before Isabelle returns to school in September.
“It isn’t right to be expecting a teenager with special needs to travel up to 130 kilometres on the one day. This is surely against all best practice and guidelines. This is not right and I am not going to let this situation continue,” he said.