Peter Roche (Galway East, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister for her opening statement. It is a pretty comprehensive account of where we are at. I especially thank her for meeting two deputations that were in the House recently, from Trinity school in Tuam and Dunmore National School, on matters that present to both. They brought different issues the Minister. They really appreciated how they were facilitated when they arrived here.

One can say without contradiction that significant progress has been made in expanding the special classes. Will the Minister elaborate how schools will be supported in meeting those deadline? She also mentioned the focus on large post-primary schools growing to four special classes. How will those schools be supported in relation to physical space and staffing?

The national therapy service is a most welcome development. Can the Minister share the timelines and scale of roll-out into mainstream schools and how she is working with the HSE to avoid fragmentation or duplication of services? Also under that heading, will the roll-out of the national therapy services include a focus on the areas outside the major urban areas? For example, I represent Galway East. We all like to be a little parochial when we need to be because we represent the people in that area. In east Galway families often struggle to access timely occupational supports, speech and language supports and behavioural supports.

The Minister’s opening statement referred to the typical 40% absenteeism rate in DEIS schools. I was a little surprised. It is quite a rate of absenteeism. What is the Minister looking at in relation to early intervention and support to reduce that figure?

I had two other questions but one has already been dealt with, namely, where areas have population growth and additional housing developments. That has been asked and the Minister has responded. On permanent contracts for teachers, what additional supports might be considered to encourage newly qualified teachers to take up roles in rural areas and disadvantaged areas?