Noel Dempsey (Meath, Fianna Fail)

In the case of a school saying that it cannot take a child or cannot be designated to take a child with a physical disability, for practical reasons alternative arrangements would be necessary until that appeal was heard. If the child is wheelchair bound and the school does not have ramps, wide doors or whatever, an alternative would have to be found. The focus of the Bill, however, is to ensure that these things become apparent before the child arrives at the school door. The procedures we have established should surmount those difficulties and overcome the physical obstacles by the time the child comes to the school. Part of the effect of these amendments is that parents will have the right to appeal a designation or a school's refusal to accept a designation so they will be party to that.

To answer Deputy O'Sullivan's point, the council has a role to play with schools on planning and the provision of facilities for children with special needs. That would initially be done on a voluntary basis but the council has powers to designate the school and make it accept children. Members should make it known that section 29 and the Education Act covers these eventualities. There are sufficient powers available to ensure that a school does not shirk its responsibility.

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