Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)

It is an disgrace that the Minister for Education and Science is not in the House to take this important matter, which was been raised by three of the four Members representing Dublin South-West. This matter came to the attention of the House both last week and the previous week. We are dealing with it in a serious way but the Minister for Education and Science is not present. That speaks volumes.

The loss of ten teaching posts and between eight to 12 SNAs from St. Joseph's Special School in Balrothery, Tallaght, will make it impossible for the school community to exist. What has been put forward by the National Council for Special Education is nothing short of a butchering exercise on the part of a quango that has been asked to do the dirty work of the Minister for Education and Science.

Many believe that the current review of SNA provision nationally is nothing more than an exercise in cutting back support to the most vulnerable children in our education system. Specifically in the case of St. Joseph's, I am asking the Minister for Education and Science to hold off on the impending removal of four SNAs from the school on Friday next, 19 February. I am also asking him to hold off on the removal of a further four SNAs by 12 April. I request that he and the NCSE work out a solution to this issue.

The Minister for Education and Science has the power to stop this madness. I ask him to visit the school in order that he might see, at first hand, the work of the school community. I also want him to see the profound educational disabilities that effect many children in this school. In such a school environment, teaching and care resources can make all the difference. The Minister's decision to effectively demolish the resources of this school make a mockery of the alleged commitment that is afforded children under the Education for People with Special Educational Needs Act. This is an Act the Oireachtas that is now frozen in time.

Taken together the impeding loss of SNAs with the possible reduction of ten teaching posts from the school represents an outrageous loss of essential teaching resources. It is implied that many of the children in this school could function perfectly well in mainstream school settings. This is patently untrue and is nothing short of nonsense. The NCSE has made it clear to the school authorities what exactly it requires in respect of documentation. The Minister should now order new psychological assessments if he considers that the information supplied is incomplete. The arguments surrounding documentation supplied to the NCSE constitute nothing more than a red herring. I and my colleagues demand a stay of execution. I reiterate that it is an a disgrace that the Minister is not present to take this matter.

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