Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As this is my first day putting questions to the Minister, I do not expect to take up too much time. I am still learning the ropes in respect of procedure.

This is a serious issue and I am glad the pilot scheme is not being rolled out nationally yet. Learning support resource teaching should be based on need. Many schools would face significant reductions and pupils with special learning needs would have to do without support if this system was introduced on a national basis. If we used the analogy of medical care, it would be equivalent to basing the allocation of such care on general area demographics rather than patient need. Will the Minister outline when it is proposed that the pilot scheme will end, when the report relating to it will be submitted and when he will have results in that regard?

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