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

I have also decided to regularise an anomalous situation whereby fee-charging schools under Catholic patronage were not in receipt of certain grants, including the support services grant, that were paid to other fee-charging schools. This measure will see all fee-charging schools treated on the same basis regardless of religious denomination.

The education of students with special educational needs continues to be a key investment priority for Government. This is reflected in the fact that there are now more than 19,000 teaching staff and SNAs working in our schools. The full implementation of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act by the target date of October 2010 is being deferred. Services will continue to be provided by my Department on a non-statutory basis.

See this speech in context