Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister's reply. It is important that we do not allow this issue to fall off the agenda. All of us recognise the significant cost involved in fully implementing the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act. Some people have suggested the cost could be double the figure of €235 million cited by the Minister. I understand the cost issue has not been the subject of a comprehensive study and that the additional costs would be incurred annually rather than on a once-off basis.

It would fall to the Departments of Education and Skills and Health to implement the Act in full. Has an analysis been done of whether the costs of implementing aspects of the legislation could be met from existing resources or with minimal additional resources? Are costs the only factor preventing full implementation at this stage?

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