John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I will not insult those present by reading into the record the funding that has been provided. It is not the case that the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act has been abandoned. Rather, the building blocks relating to that Act have been put in place in the form of the €20 million to which I refer.

The areas of disability and mental health often come under sustained attack during a recession. Some of what is being said in the House might give families with members who have special needs or individuals who access mental health services the impression that the Government is intent on discontinuing the provision of services. Since becoming Minister of State I have taken the opportunity to meet with the representatives of the various disability groups on a three-monthly basis. I have assured them that I will be coming before the Government in the next number of months with a five-year programme similar-----

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