Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I fully support the Technical Group's motion, which is compelling in its call on the Fine Gael-Labour Government to reverse the cuts to services for pupils with special needs. This is a heartless and cruel cut which is being applied across the education system. In its amendment to the motion, the Government notes that "the cap on Special Needs Assistants was introduced by the previous Government when Ireland entered the Programme of Financial Support with the EU and IMF". Those are words of shame. The support given to children with special needs to avail of their right to education is to be capped. So much for equality. What will happen next? Will a cap be placed on the number of school places in order to accommodate our growing population?

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