Tom Clonan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The family, when they became aware of this, brought it to the attention of the board and the senior leadership team of the NCAD. The Minister, the board and the senior leadership team have known for six months about this discriminatory treatment but they have not acted. Their only response was two weeks ago, when Emma O'Kelly, for RTÉ, did a story that covered it. Then they issued a bland statement that they would engage in some sort of protocol assessment. Even though third level institutions are not de facto in loco parentis for students such as my son and Felim's child, they do have a strong pastoral duty of care towards disabled citizens and to say that citizens should not be failed in this way.

I want a debate in this House with the Minister, Deputy Patrick O'Donovan, to fully rehearse the responsibilities of institutions such as NCAD in terms of their commitment and supports for our disabled citizens. We should not fail a talented artist who wants to have visibility as a disabled artist in this way. It is a most reprehensible series of incidents. As a father, a parent and a carer to a university student such as this one, to me, it beggars belief that we would treat a citizen in this way.