Noel Harrington (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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I welcome Mr. Stack and apologise for being late. On the question of the role of the NCSE with respect to the Department, I presume everything done by the NCSE is done through departmental circulars. I ask Mr. Stack to outline the type of engagement his organisation has with the Department before such circulars are issued and, if issues arise with circulars, the type of engagement that happens post their issuance. This is very important in the context of a very fluid and fast changing environment in the context of resource allocation to schools for children with special needs. Can circulars constrain the work that the NCSE does in terms of a lack of flexibility? The issue of resource constraints is a whole different ball game. I am interested to hear if the NCSE is constrained by departmental circulars.