Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

On a specific issue, delivering equity in education, the programme for Government states, "We will consider recommendations of the review of the DEIS programme and use it as platform for new initiatives to deliver better outcomes for students in disadvantaged areas." DEIS suffered cuts of 15% over two years ago. Those cuts have never been reversed, particularly for DEIS band 2 schools. In the review mentioned in the programme for Government, can that matter be addressed as a matter of urgency in the case of those schools?

There was a commitment to publish a plan in the programme for Government for the implementation of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs, EPSEN, Act 2004 to prioritise access for children with special needs to an individual education plan. The priority would be to move to a system whereby necessary supports follow a child from primary to second level and to achieve greater integration of special needs related services. This is the commitment given four years ago. The results have been in the opposite direction. I have not yet seen any plan for the implementation of the EPSEN Act 2004. Could the Taoiseach indicate the sections of the Act that have been fully commenced?

Have all sections of the Act been commenced? If the Taoiseach does not have the information immediately, could he forward it to me? There is major disquiet in the special education community about the Government's lack of engagement and the cutback in resources, particularly regarding assessment, diagnosis and intervention.

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