Derek Keating (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister for his helpful response to this question. The question of whether the Department of Education and Skills is able to maintain its current policy in this area is central in this context. Is it in a position to continue to provide special needs assistance to children with particular needs and abilities, including those with Down's syndrome? I want to refer briefly to an issue regarding special needs assistance that arose during an episode of "Prime Time" this week. I visit schools in my constituency of Dublin Mid-West on a regular basis as part of my work as a Deputy. I have been to a number of schools this week. I met a principal who informed me that he feels the structure of special needs services in this country is working very well. Notwithstanding the particular issues that arise from time to time, I want to tell the House that in my experience, the structure of the service is working very well. I know the Minister is sympathetic about those issues and is looking into them carefully. While emphasising that we have a very good special needs assistance service, I want to mention an issue that arose in the meeting I had earlier this week. I was told by a principal that the cut-off date for applications is causing problems. He said that some officials tend to focus on the numbers rather than the particular issues or circumstances of the children. Perhaps we can look at the cut-off dates as we go along.

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