SPECIAL NEEDS & DISABILITIES Since my election to Parliament, I have taken a personal interest in issues relating to special educational needs and disability and I having nothing but admiration for the excellent work carried out in the Special Schools in my constituency and by groups representing the disabled in the community such as Lisburn Mencap Society. I have spoken on many occasions in the House of Commons about the need to increase the level of funding for support services in this important sector. It is unacceptable that young children with special needs have to wait for lengthy periods, sometimes years, to get the help they need in terms of therapy support including physiotherapy and speech and language therapy. Greater priority needs to be given to the recruitment of additional therapists so that when a statement of special needs stipulates a certain level of therapy support, the child or young person actually receives the level of support that is required.

In addition, there is a need to encourage greater inclusion within our community for people with disabilities and to promote better public awareness of diability issues. This should include Disability Awarenness Training for all public sector staff. I support the call by groups such as Disability Action and Mencap for proper funding of capacity building and training programmes for people with disabilities and improved support for those seeking employment. This should include a comprehensive review of the New Deal Programme for people with disabilities. I also welcome the promise of new facilities at the 'Lisburn Assessment & Resource Centre' (LARC) which will bring significant benefits for the local community.

There is also a need for a more comprehensive and simplified benefits system which more adequately meets the needs and extra costs incurred by people with disabilities.