Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy is right that there is a crossover between the Department of Education and my Department but the child that he speaks of is the child with a disability and the parent that he speaks of is the parent of a child with a disability so the children with disabilities are my children. As the Minister of State at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, I am responsible for providing supports for these children. Yes, I will champion their needs. I will work with all parents and all elected representatives on these issues and I hope that we reach the stage that the Deputy has articulated. With his level of experience working in the profession of education he speaks with authority but I agree with what he said about the reports. It is not the first time that I have heard that reports have been rubbished and shredded. I will raise the matter with the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, tomorrow.