John Moloney (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

I assume the Deputy's question relates to the recent decision to pause the increase in funding for the centre in question.

I am pleased to advise the House that funding for the centre has not been blocked. Indeed, funding provided this year has allowed for an increase in the number of staff at the centre. The Department has put on record that it is anxious to continue to work with the centre to develop additional programmes.

Given the current economic climate, a thorough review of all educational projects and programmes requiring expenditure was undertaken. I am sure the House appreciates that the level of competing demands within the education sector and the overall demands on Government finances has meant that it was not possible to provide additional funding to fully develop all projects currently under way.

The outcome of this process means that the Department is, unfortunately, not in a position to provide the funding required to expand the centre as had been intended this year. It had been intended that a major capital project would commence on site and that significant additional personnel would be recruited over the course of the next 18 months. However, it simply was not possible for my Department to provide the additional funding at this point in time.

I must stress that this decision does not mean that funding has been blocked. The centre will continue to be enabled to provide services and to develop some additional services. The Department is anxious to ensure the continuation of ongoing training and research programmes. I can assure the Deputy that the Department will keep expansion of the centre under review in the context of improved financial circumstances.

I wish also to assure the House that the Government will continue to prioritise funding to ensure that pupils with special educational needs will continue to receive an appropriate education, a commitment reflected in the allocation of more than €1 billion in 2009 to support pupils and young people with special educational needs.

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