Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

It falls to me to make the last contribution in this debate this evening and to appeal to Government to step back from the brink. The cutting of education for children with special needs is one of the most deplorable acts perpetrated by this totally discredited Government. When it comes to cuts, it now seems to be a rule of thumb for this Fianna Fáil and Green Party Government that the most vulnerable must suffer first. Therefore, I support this motion and I reject the dishonest Government amendment.

I wish to put on record the point that when it is necessary to amalgamate special classes based on falling numbers it is important to recognise the circumstances of those living in rural areas and their right to attend classes that cater for their needs.

The White Paper on Education, Charting our Education Future of 1995, states:

All students, regardless of their personal circumstances, have a right of access to and participation in the education system, according to their potential and ability.

This means that education is a fundamental right. It means that everybody, regardless of his or her social background or ability, has an absolute right to be educated in an appropriate environment. Maybe Fianna Fáil and the Green Party should have a look at this document because it certainly seems they either just do not care or are thoroughly ignorant of what it says.

The standard answer to every parliamentary question, Oral Question and query put to the Minister for Education and Science on this issue is that there will be no pupil with a special educational need who will be without access to a special needs teacher as a result of the decision to apply the normal rules which govern the appointment and retention of teachers of special classes for pupils with a mild general learning disability. I put it to the Minister and his colleagues in Government that he has either absolutely no clue what kind of answers are being issued in his name or he himself is a sham. Either way, it is shame on Deputy Batt O'Keeffe-----

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