Brian Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

It is a question of providing a better educational environment by having interaction between children and having a larger number in the classroom instead of isolating two or three. This is regarded as a better solution than the arrangement that was developed on an ad hoc basis in the past. This is the thinking behind the proposal.

This is not about finances but rather about trying to ensure best practice. I understand and respect what parents have to say. In our constituencies we all meet people whose children are in a particular location or set of circumstances and there is always an understandable reluctance to change the arrangements. However, there are educational issues to be considered and there is a need for departmental personnel and teaching staff to work closely with parents to try to reduce to the greatest extent possible any anxieties they may have about new arrangements, and to ensure the outcome for the children in the educational setting is at least as good as, or hopefully better, than the current arrangements.

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