Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Deputies for their interventions and Deputy Ó Caoláin for his good wishes.

I agree wholeheartedly with the Deputies on the child-centred approach. Meeting the needs of the individual child is what is important. It was stated the needs of the child can change from time to time and Deputy Ó Caoláin seemed to accept there are different approaches to meeting them. I come to this issue with an interest in ensuring there is sufficient capacity in the system, that the teachers are professional, that the enhanced resources put in place to date will continue to be made available and that the National Council for Special Education will advise the Department on progress that can be made on this issue.

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