Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am conscious the proposer of the Bill has yet to speak again and only six minutes remain in the slot. I genuinely thank all Deputies for their considered views in the debate. The Government's non-opposition to the Bill is not a cynical ploy. We want to state categorically we have accepted the advice of the National Council for Special Education and there is no question the development of a new model for allocating additional resource teaching support to schools must be explored.

The intention of the new model will be to allocate resources as fairly as possible to those schools most in need of these resources and to provide greater autonomy - I cannot emphasise enough the word "autonomy" - for schools in targeting the resources to the pupils who need them most regardless of their disability, categorisation or diagnosis and in accordance with the recommendations contained in the report. It is clear the report will fully address the issue raised with regard to pupils with Down's syndrome and the reason we are taking the approach we are on the Bill is to allow for it to be referred to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection where it can be considered in the context of the forthcoming proposals to establish a completely new model for the allocation.

I sincerely take the points raised by Deputies on the length of time between now and September 2015, when the report will issue. I certainly will take it up with the Minister, Deputy Quinn, arising from the interventions made by Deputies across the House. All Deputies are mindful of the historical perspective on the challenges and the unconditional love one feels from people in the community. It has been well-articulated by Deputies in certain testimonies and we have all encountered it from people with Down's syndrome. We are genuinely trying to deal with the issue. I understand people are absolutely and utterly frustrated at this stage and I am confident the issues raised on the time-lag will be addressed by the Oireachtas committee, but I assure the House I will take them up with the Minister, Deputy Quinn.

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