Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As I was preparing my few notes for this debate, I had hoped it would be constructive and positive. I mention all those adjectives we are used to hearing from some Members in the House. I have to reference Deputy Ó Ríordáin's contribution in particular. He came in here professing that he wanted to de-escalate the situation, to be constructive and to use all of those positive connotations. He then launched into a five-minute tirade of abuse against the Minister. He cast aspersions on the Minister of State as well before he decided he would up sticks and leave the debate and the room. That hypocrisy needs to be flagged and the people who might be watching this on television at home can see that for what it is. He did not even give the Minister of State the opportunity to respond to the aspersions he cast against her and that hypocrisy needs to be called out. I would welcome Deputy Gannon's contribution, which was much more measured and constructive.

I commend the Minister and the Minister of State for the attempts they have made. It has not been easy and it is obvious that there have been difficulties but the best way to resolve those difficulties is through engagement and debate. By my nature I am a schoolteacher. I have a lot of friends, family members and relatives who are in the education field, just as the Minister does. People are concerned and there is a heightened level of anxiety for obvious reasons. It is the middle of a pandemic. That said, we have to do the right thing here, which is to get back to the table, as the Minister and the Minister of State have done today, and to engage in positive discussions with the various trade unions. It is incumbent on all of us, on all sides of the House, to comment responsibly and maturely in this debate because as others have mentioned, any negative contributions are likely to heighten, enflame and escalate the difficulties we are having, rather than resolve them. We need a bit of calm and Members need to be measured in their contributions. That would be appreciated by all sides.

I have a number of questions for the Minister of State on special education. Has any consideration been given to local arrangements being made in the interim in situations in which schools, employees or education providers would like to assist the family of a special education student in getting additional help? Would allowances be considered for this type of an arrangement if it was agreeable to all parties at a local level?

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