Dr. Ken Fennelly:

I echo what the previous speakers stated. All of our schools have interactive whiteboards and there is a cost associated with their upkeep. I wish to refer to a matter that has not yet been raised, namely, special schools. I do not represent special schools and I have no expertise in the area. However, I am aware that the costs involved in running these schools are three to four times as great as those relating to the running of ordinary mainstream schools. The heating in those schools must be switched on constantly and they have water needs which are far in excess of those of other schools. As already stated, I do not have any expertise in this area but I have received feedback from some of our patrons who are involved in special schools to the effect that the costs relating to running them are over and above those incurred by ordinary mainstream schools.