Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick East, Fine Gael)

I compliment my colleague, Deputy Brian Hayes, for bringing this very opportune motion before the House. As a general observation, we have to come before this House too many times in terms of issues to do with special needs. I wish the Minister well and she has an opportunity to set out, in a defining moment, precisely what her incumbency as Minister for Education and Skills will be about. We have to look after people with special needs.

Many students and parents are here today from across the length and breadth of the country. Countless numbers of people are coming to me in my constituency, Limerick East, who are extremely worried about SNAs being withdrawn from their children. Inspections are ongoing, some of them have got the results while others have not. The Minister has to make a commitment tonight to put an appeals process in place and ensure that children can achieve their optimal capacity. As a parent, the Minister can appreciate that this is what is required. We cannot have a situation where if an SNA is withdrawn from a child, he or she will regress. The child will have been allocated the SNA, at the outset, to ensure that he or she could achieve optimal potential. Therefore, this is imperative.

On a final point, some €8 billion has been put into Anglo Irish Bank by the Government since 21 January this year. That is equivalent to the Minister's entire budget in one year. The Government needs to get its priorities right.

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