Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

Of course, and it is the calendar year as well. There are 80 special educational needs organisers, SENOs, dealing with 18,000 pupils in this case. The Deputy made an allegation of a disconnect and commented about people living in a parallel universe. Politicians will always blame the person with responsibility. In a democracy it is always right to be able to point out who is responsible and in charge.

The Minister for Education and Skills is dealing with this directly. When the council meets him its representatives will be able to articulate, with more time and more examples, the issues to which the Deputy refers. They will not be talking to an official but to the Minister. He has set out his policy in the House. He held back 10% of the SNAs for a very good reason and he will deal with the issues raised by the council when he meets its representatives tomorrow. There is no disconnect and no living in a parallel universe.

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