Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)

I am aware of a number of teachers who have come in from a DÉIS area and I have already raised the issue of flexibility with the Minister. We are all seeking a fairer system in this regard but families are facing difficulties regardless because it will take a while to tweak or change the system. We must help those families around the current system, while sending a positive signal that it will improve for them. One principal I spoke to said that since 2009 some 21 children with autism have applied for places in his school. He said he wanted to take them in and it is part of the school's mission statement to do so, but the big difficulty is a lack of resources. That is just an example of one school.

People may ask how it is that there are so many children with special needs and whether some people are abusing the system but I do not believe so. The fact is that these matters are being identified a lot earlier now. I accept that it comes down to resources but if resources can be taken from other sections within the education system it would give these children and their families a chance. The last thing we want to see is families having to go to court to seek their legal entitlements.

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