Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

That would be regarded as truly outrageous. However, Deputy Buttimer should note that because children with special needs are in a minority, the IMF, the EU and the Government feel they can get away with placing a cap on the right of such children to a proper education. The Deputy's daily contributions in this House amount to him sniggering and launching snide comments across the Chamber. It is absolutely inappropriate for him to attempt to make such comments in respect of this extremely serious matter.

We acknowledge that there has been an increase in supports for pupils with special needs in recent years. However, this was from a base of zero. The current cuts send out the message that this is a dispensable service and that in the future parents and children can expect a reduced service - if one is provided at all - on which they will not be able to depend.

I commend the schools, parents and umbrella groups throughout the country that have been campaigning in respect of this issue. The Special Needs Parents Association has stated that "This is a crisis for parents of children with behavioural difficulties due to ADD, ADHD, ASD, ODD and many other conditions that lead to behavioural difficulties and it will affect not only them but the entire school population". As the motion indicates, the recently introduced cap on the number of special needs assistants represents a false economy. Denied the supports they require at a young age, children will require greater and more costly supports in later years. Such supports will be costly, above all, to their families, other carers and the State.

There cannot be a Deputy - irrespective of whether he or she is on the Government or the Opposition benches - who has not been lobbied by a long list of schools, school interest groups, parents and teachers in recent times. During the past week I was lobbied by a number of schools in my constituency. I met parents who are deeply alarmed at the prospect of their children returning to school in September without the essential special needs supports they deserve and should receive being in place.

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