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

First, I have given priority to special education. I met representatives of FUSS Ireland last Saturday. I met a range of disability groups last Saturday, mainly involved on the health side. There was a very significant focus on the progressing disability services, PDS, programme and its implementation and application. I have had issues with that myself. There was a series of meetings involving the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy Rabbitte, the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, the Minister of State at the Department of Education, Deputy Madigan, the Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, and the HSE, which has resulted in the restoration of therapists to special schools over a certain timeframe.

In terms of school places themselves, we have made it clear what we want and the Department of Education, in fairness, has responded. In the past two years we have established new special schools where required. We have also brought in legislation that means schools cannot refuse children with special needs. It is the case that, over the years, post-primary did not develop to the same extent as primary level.

See this speech in context