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

I do not visit every school or class where the level of staffing or funding has been adversely affected by the application of various policies. Not only would it be physically impossible for me to visit every school where a teaching post is being suppressed, I suggest this would not represent the best use of a Minister's time. I frequently visit schools and interact with staff and pupils and I intend to continue doing so. In supporting the principle of inclusion, I state that all children should feel part of the school community and it would be unusual for me to visit a specific special class. Rather, I meet the school community.

My Department examined the enrolment returns for a number of special classes for pupils with mild general learning disabilities and found many of them did not meet the minimum enrolment for retention. The decision was taken to apply the normal rules and suppress the classes concerned. Staffing levels in schools change frequently due to fluctuating pupil numbers. This is a normal feature of the operation of schools. Established administrative procedures are in place to facilitate adjustments to a school's staffing in such situations.

I understand that parents are anxious that their children will continue to receive an appropriate education. I reassure them that no pupil with special educational needs will be without access to support from a special needs teacher as a result of this decision. I have stated previously that I am open to listening to proposals from schools where they can demonstrate it is educationally more beneficial for the pupils involved to be in a special class. A number of schools have made submissions to my Department and my officials will be in contact with them as quickly as possible.

I reiterate that pupils with mild general learning disabilities will continue to have access to additional teaching resources to support their education. However, there is a requirement to make appropriate use of the resources available, and as in all other areas of expenditure, provision depends on the resources available to the Government.

See this speech in context