Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)

I thank the Minister for her reply. This issue has been raised on a number of occasions. I am sure her back bench colleagues will have made her aware of the serious disquiet that exists on this issue. I recently attended a meeting in Scoil Coca Naofa, Kilcock, to which all the candidates were invited in the context of the by-election. We heard at first hand the concerns of parents and teachers, including special needs teachers and the principal of the school, that children who have been assessed as being in need of resources and who now have them will have them diluted. Has the Minister listened to some of these parents and teachers regarding their real and individual concerns?

The Minister said that children would receive the service appropriate to their needs. Does that mean that a child who has two and a half hours' one-to-one support and has been assessed as needing this support will continue to have that level of support from September 2005? There are concerns that where resources are in place and the system is working well on the basis of the figures in the weighted scheme, schools would lose teachers and resource hours and children would lose out. Will the Minister address these concerns and ensure children do not lose the resources they need?

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