Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Among the commitments in the programme for Government is a commitment that the Government will proceed with the proposal to hold a constitutional referendum on children's rights. I have had the opportunity to meet the Minister of State with responsibility for children, Deputy Barry Andrews, and I do not intend to go into the details of that. It is not what this question is about. Given that we had all-party consensus and that we now have the Government's own proposed wording, is it the intention of the Taoiseach and the Government to hold a referendum on this new wording? Will the referendum be held in conjunction with the general election? Has the Taoiseach given his blessing to Deputy Barry Andrews's stated intent to have that referendum in the course of the Government's remaining time? If so, when will the referendum Bill be published?

On a separate matter, the last time we addressed the programme for Government in the Dáil, which was prior to the 2011 Budget Statement, I pointed out that, on education, the programme says, "Those with special needs will be safeguarded". I asked the Taoiseach at that time if he would rule out any further cuts to special needs assistance and other supports and if he would keep to the commitment contained in the programme for Government to, "continue to develop therapy services for children with special needs attending mainstream schools". I am sure Deputies of all political interests in the House know that, following a directive issued in December, special educational needs organisers, SENOs, are no longer in a position to appoint new special needs assistants, SNAs. In fact, the only power remaining to them is to cease SNA support for a specific child in need of special needs assistance in the classroom. Given the commitment in the programme for Government, the Taoiseach's own response before the 2011 budget and the fact that children who are, by SENO assessment, in need of special support are not getting it, will the Taoiseach, in the weeks remaining to him, ensure that this draconian diminution of support is reversed, in the interest of children who need this special intervention at a critical stage of their educational development?

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