Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

Do I understand from the Taoiseach's reply that the Government and the Minister for Education and Science will not change position? I have read what the Minister has written about it, his response and his view that there is an educational case for moving the children concerned into mainstream classes. With the greatest of respect, their parents disagree. The children are in special needs classes at present and that is where their parents want them to remain. What is the Taoiseach saying to the parents of those children? Is he saying the Government is sticking by the decision that those children will be moved out of the special needs classes and into mainstream classes? Will he respond to the case I am making that the Government should reconsider this decision and those children should be left in the special needs classes and whatever accommodations and arrangements are required should be made? The parents of these children are looking for an answer; they are not looking for the educational theory which may or may not be right. Incidentally, the educational argument is a cover, in my view, for what is a financial issue. Will the children stay in the special needs classes or will they be taken out of them?

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