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

It is very important that on Friday the Minister confirm that the same aims and objectives, in addition to the other objectives of the July provision scheme, are there. Addressing the shortfall in provision for the special educational needs of all children, particularly those who face disadvantage, must be an absolute priority for the current Government and the next one. What has happened in the past three months has not been the fault of the Government but comes on top of reduced provision and not enough provision in general for students with special educational needs. Their constitutional rights to education have not been vindicated.

I wish to raise two other issues with the Minister, and I hope he will take cognisance of them. I welcome what he said about the leaving certificate. That seems to be going relatively smoothly. On the reopening of schools, however, the Minister said he would update Cabinet on Friday. With respect, the Cabinet is the decision-making body of which he is a member, but updating is for the Dáil, to which he is accountable. We represent the parents and children. It is for the Minister to update us today so we can then tell the parents. The Cabinet makes the decisions; it does not get updates. I would like the Minister to update us. Furthermore, and I have said this to him privately, I would like him to make a declaration that schools should, where possible and when public health allows it, whether in the new term or otherwise, have some type of graduation or progression ceremony for sixth class and sixth year students. Some schools are doing so but some are not, and it would help if the Minister made a national announcement to encourage this.

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