James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)

I thank my colleague, Deputy Brian Hayes, for bringing this important matter before the House. The withdrawal of SNAs and classes from schools with pupils whose integration into mainstream education is dependent on such provision is unbelievable and must be reversed this evening. To remove this help flies in the face of logic and basic decency. Is the Minister suggesting "the survival of the fittest" should become the new educational mantra? How exactly does the Minister picture the future of children left to cope in a school environment that is alien to their needs?

The Government has a shameful record of targeting the most vulnerable in society. However, even by its standards, the act of hitting out at highly dependent children is certainly the lowest of the low. What do we expect it from other than a Fianna Fáil-led Government that bailed out the dodgy bankers and builders yesterday?

Under the Constitution every child is entitled to an education. However, to achieve their full potential, some children need special help. The push to integrate special needs children into mainstream education has always been open to debate. With many being left to sink or swim in an environment that is not tailored to their needs, that debate is now intensifying.

Special needs classes in mainstream schools give children the chance to avail of the specific help they need while benefiting from the social and educational environment of the school. However, parents and students who availed of such special provision were given no warning of the cutback. The axe is falling in the middle of the academic year with no appeal mechanisms.

How can one ever begin to imagine the anguish of the parents we met and those in every constituency who have in good faith entrusted the education of their children to the State? They were assured by the Government that their children would be looked after within the system. As recently as last month, the former Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe said, "This Government has delivered for children with special needs." I am not sure whether he believed his own spin or whether he had totally lost touch with reality. The latter option would certainly appear to be the case in terms of the doublethink on the part of the Government. While SNAs are being withdrawn from schools, it is contended there is no question of posts being removed from schools where they meet the scheme's criteria. Numerous schools in my constituency of Longford-Westmeath have lost an SNA to the detriment of their pupil profile, which has not changed.

I am very disappointed with this Government. I hope the hypocritical politicians on the Fianna Fáil side, who were outside the gate this evening, vote for the Fine Gael motion. I compliment our spokesperson on education, Deputy Brian Hayes, on bringing the very important motion before the House.

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