Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister may recall that, a year or more ago, I raised with her and the then Taoiseach, Deputy Micheál Martin, the whole area of special education provision. I compliment the Minister and the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, on the progress that has been made in ensuring a substantial expansion in the provision of special education. At that time, I questioned whether the input of the local inspector or cigire was factored into planning. Years ago, the views of the local inspector, who covered a county or half a county, were critical in determining future plans with regard to both the provision of accommodation and the level of teaching support for schools. Is the role of the inspector critical in assessments for the DEIS programme? We can have algorithms and censuses but there is nothing to beat up-to-date local knowledge as to the needs of the local school community. I am a firm believer in ensuring that the knowledge of the local inspector is factored into all decision-making by the Department.

See this speech in context