Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Am I right in thinking that the work of special educational needs organisers comes under the NCSE? I happened to have worked in the area of special education before I was elected to the Dáil and we often found them very difficult to deal with in that it was very difficult to get a response out of them and they would let things drag on. I can give one example in my own situation where I sought laptops for physically disabled children and it took them three years to come to a decision. That is far too long, particularly when it comes to children and teenagers. I do not know how widespread that is. There was a joke that went around school staffrooms that SENOs were called "say nos". I do know how fair that is but that was the view. I appreciate that they cannot always respond to everybody's needs but if people are being turned down, the sooner they are turned down, the better because at least then they know where they stand. I do not expect the secretary general to comment on all of that business.

With regard to student supports, if I have read the figures correctly, the amount is down by €31 million due to discontinuing the practice of allowing students to hold a maintenance grant in conjunction with back to education and vocational training opportunities scheme, VTOS, allowances and a change in qualifying criteria. Can the secretary general say what impact that has had upon students? Has it significantly reduced the financial means of certain students?