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

I am always reluctant to deal with an individual case because I do not know the background to it and so forth, but no child with special needs should be expelled from school. Obviously, there could be circumstances that I am not aware of. However, what should happen immediately is that the various support services and special education needs organisers should be consulted first and measures taken to facilitate the child's placement in the school. The Department of Education will provide the resources for every situation. No child, particularly one with special needs, should be treated in that manner or identified in that way either. Again, I do not want to pass judgment without knowing the full details to be fair to all concerned. Ideally, this should be resolved on the ground, with the involvement of the family, the school community and the NCSE.

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