Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 16 July 2014

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection

Special Educational Needs Provision: National Council for Special Education and Health Service Executive

1:35 pm

Photo of Averil PowerAveril Power (Fianna Fail)
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The area I know best is north Dublin. A member of staff there went on maternity leave and was not replaced, and children were left without a service. This was entirely predictable and there should have automatically been a replacement but this did not happen. From raising this issue in the Seanad over the past three years I have learned there seems to be a difference between how many people are recruited and how many people are providing a service. Where do we stand in respect of this? Mr. Healy stated 21 extra posts have been allocated. I have been raising this issue for a long time. For the past two years the Minister has stated a total of €4 million has been allocated, but we have not seen it being spent or seen people in positions. What is the actual situation?