Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)

I am delighted to have an opportunity to speak on this important motion. All Deputies are contacted regularly by parents concerned about children who require a special needs assistant or other needs met. As the Minister pointed out, it is important to look after children from a young age.

Although I agree with her that we must have an automatic response to meet the needs of pupils, it is a pity her Department does not pursue such a policy. If such a policy was at the top of its agenda, I and other Deputies would not need to table parliamentary questions regarding specific pupils every week. I accept the Minister was appointed only recently and wish her luck.

I will give two examples from the many cases of parents who visit my clinic. Two weeks ago, I received a call concerning a child with a major behavioural problem. The school indicated that its teachers were no longer able to facilitate the pupil because of his behavioural problem. The boy in question comes from a broken family and is being looked after by his grandmother. It is sad that a child has been sent home from school because teachers are unable to look after him. The grandparent of the child has had a number of meetings with the board of management and principal of the school. I would love to be able to tell the grandparent that, having spoken to the Minister, a special needs assistant will be provided for the child and everything will be fine. Unfortunately, I will not be able to do so due to red tape, which is worse in the Department of Education and Science than in the Department of Agriculture and Food.

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