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

First, I accept the points the Deputy is making. There are huge gaps. In my view, the roll-out of the progressing disability services, PDS, model has been very problematic and challenging over the years. I would have had my own views prior to coming into government in terms of the PDS model. I have engaged with the Ministers for Health and Education, the Minister of State with responsibility for special needs education and the Minister of State with responsibility for disability services, Deputy Rabbitte. We have had a number of meetings. Our first decision was to make sure special schools would have therapy supports restored to them that had, as part of the wider PDS model, been taken from them and spread to that wider model. There is a philosophy behind the PDS model, which I have to acknowledge, but I believe there needs to be strong multidisciplinary teams in education settings. That is a view I have. Recruitment is an issue.

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