Ms Breda Corr:

With regard to Deputy Jan O'Sullivan's remarks, I agree with Mr. Adam Harris that inclusion should not be optional. It should at least be attempted in all cases. Some people do it very well. We were asked about the sharing of experiences. Our annual conference is open to everyone, or to all our members. Operating out of education centres in a number of areas are support groups of principals. In the south Dublin area, in particular, I am very aware of it. It extends down as far as Wicklow. Those concerned have done it themselves, and special schools and special classes go. I have not used the word "unit" since I was challenged last year in here, or I have used it very little.

To address the breadth of the subject, all special schools are classified as national schools. Many years ago we suggested to the Department that some of the specialist teachers would be shared between primary and post-primary. Those teachers might not have full hours in a secondary school and could easily do hours elsewhere. However, the problem with those hours is that they have never been increased. Specialist teachers are working on junior cycle level one or level two. Some primary school teachers in special schools have applied to the support services but they are ineligible for employment, despite being the most skilled people to teach levels one and two.

Deputy O'Loughlin spoke about the pilot scheme. There is a school in a completely different part of the country that is operating as a post-primary school, catering for students aged 12 to 18 years. A sister school caters for students up to the age of 12 years. The school operates as a post-primary school as much as it can. As a school for mild special educational needs, it is not in the same league as St. Anne's or-----