Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)

I thank all of the witnesses for being here. Their statements are really instructive and enlightening for us. They are very powerful and moving as well. Mr. O'Neill summed up so much about where we are at in respect of inclusive education when he said in his statement, "No child's ... education should depend on charity or chance". I really salute his hard-hitting commentary about the degree to which schools have to make extraordinary, almost heroic, efforts to meet the basic needs of children. Also, there was his emphasis on relationships being at the core of supporting those children as well as the social and psychological complexity that can exist beyond diagnosis. Will he say more about the gap that exists between the resources he was granted by the Government and what his school requires to function comfortably? Has that discrepancy improved or worsened over time? Will he give some detail on how close to the wire he is with having programmes in place or enough resources each year? Also, will he say a little about the prospects his pupils with additional needs are facing in respect of second level education in Limerick? Do they have very limited options? Will they potentially have to travel for long distances? Is there much of a difference between primary and secondary provision for children with additional needs in Moyross?