Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

I welcome the Minister's last comment and must interpret it as positively as possible. In July 2010, just last year, the Minister accused the then Minister for Education and Science and the Department of bullying tactics and of forcing ABA schools to sign up to the transition to special school status, thus ceasing to provide ABA to the cohort of children who would benefit. I hope the Minister's response has indicated his position has not changed.

What will be done to address the shortage of speech and language therapists and the failure to replace therapists on sick leave and maternity leave? The shortage is such that the children affected miss out of months of educational input that is crucial to their early development.

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