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

Every day, and in every school, pupils with mild general learning disability are being successfully educated in integrated settings.

Earlier this year, I took the decision to close a number of special classes for pupils with mild general learning disability. This decision was taken because the pupil numbers in these classes were insufficient to merit the retention of the teacher based on my Department's policy on class retention, which dates back to 1999.

The Opposition has called for the immediate reinstatement of all 128 classes. This call defies belief. Some eight of the classes concerned should have no pupils at all. Is Deputy Hayes really saying that I should provide teachers to classes where there should be no pupils?

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