Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his response. This is an issue we discussed on Private Members' business last week. At the outset I express my disappointment that neither the Minister nor a Minister of State from the Department of Education and Skills was present for the second day of that debate. In my experience that is unprecedented in the conduct of Private Members' motions. Parents of children with special needs were present in the Visitors Gallery. There was a protest just outside the gates in which parents of children with special needs came to express their dissatisfaction with the Minister's approach to the issue. The combined groups of parents involved issued a statement afterwards outlining how the policy the Minister is pursuing of keeping the cap the same at a time when there is a 10% increase in demand is leading to cuts.

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