Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

These are the wider questions we are all going to be grappling with in terms of how we adapt to this phenomenal disruption, not just within the economy but within society, and education is going to be part of that. Certainly, from the conversations I had on Monday with my European counterparts, I know every single country in the European Union is grappling with the same issues.

With regard to special education, we are very lucky to have 125 special schools and an extra one - Danu Community Special School - came on stream last year. I accept there are challenges within those schools and we have to ensure that whatever support we bring in is line with the demands of the sector. The leaders within special education are very keen to have a holistic approach. One of the pilots I have set up operates in 75 schools and is something that special schools are very interested in monitoring. We cannot just have education working in a silo with regard to health because there are many medical complexities within these special schools. Many are fighting for nurses to be on campus but it has to be wider than that, and it has to include nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech and language therapists. There has to be a holistic approach to education that ensures we are compliant with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in that, irrespective of a person's intellectual or physical challenge or disability, each and every student should have the same opportunity as any other student in mainstream education. That is something we are working towards, although it is a complex piece of work.

I know there was a debate during the election and reference was made to Canada, where a particular state closed all special schools. I do not believe in that philosophy and I think our 126 special schools play a pivotal role. In order for them to grow and get stronger, all the issues around staff-student ratios will be on the table in the future.

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