John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister for his reply. I am concerned about how these changes will affect pupils in schools throughout the State. The Minister referred to support for DEIS schools. I have before me a list of parents and teachers of students with special needs in non-DEIS schools. Recurring themes in the months since our economic difficulties emerged are that there must be value for money and that the vulnerable must be protected. In this instance, students with special educational needs in non-DEIS schools are falling through the cracks.

In my own constituency of Mayo, a capitation grant of €65,000 was paid to the county council last year to provide a school library service. Special needs teachers were able to obtain books under this scheme for children with special needs in their schools. We are all aware of the need for reductions in public expenditure. It is only right that those parents who can afford to do so should pay for their children's school books. However, what about vulnerable children in non-DEIS schools? What has the Minister to say to those teachers whose students have been eligible for this service thus far but are now to be denied it? Has any provision been made for such students? Officials in Mayo County Council have told me that the cutbacks will affect not only children with special needs but also non-national children, or the new Irish as they are often described. Other services that may be affected include the link-up to the Health Service Executive for the provision of speech therapy services. What will the Minister say to the parents and teachers of the children for whom these services will be withdrawn in June 2009?

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