Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)

On the issue of children with special needs, not only with regard to public transport requests, the Minister will be aware that we lost five special needs assistants in our local school before the summer. The parents of the children affected and public representatives on the ground have not been able to meet the special educational needs organiser to discuss this situation, which has been ongoing since the month of June. We have written, e-mailed and made requests, which have gone from pillar to post. We are now approaching the month of December. I find it unacceptable that someone in the public service is that unavailable to such a large number of people to discuss such a critical issue. These are people who are dealing, unfortunately, with children with special needs, which is distressing enough. They find the reduction in resources distressing, and not being able to meet the SENO is adding to that distress.

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