Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputies Tully, Guirke, Joan Collins, Ó Ríordáin and Andrews for their contributions. I will briefly mention some of the issues that were addressed. Regarding the EPSEN Act, which most Deputies raised, it is important to recognise that our system looks very different from how it did in 2004. The most obvious development is the number of people working in the school system who did not in 2004. Almost 40,000 people are wholly and exclusively dedicated to looking after children with additional needs, including special needs assistants, special education teachers and the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS. It is important to mention that those are key elements of the education system.

In response to Deputy Joan Collins, therapeutic supports often come up. I am working closely with the Minister of State with responsibility for disability, Deputy Anne Rabbitte, on that. It is under her remit but it has an impact on me with regard to special schools, which the Deputy mentioned. I am looking at it and at trying to progress the school inclusion model, which will assist in that regard. It is something we could do in the interim, not just in the future.

Although he is not here, I acknowledge Deputy Ó Ríordáin's comments on the building projects, which I know Deputy Andrews mentioned too. As they mentioned, there have been ongoing conversations with the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, the Taoiseach, and the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, about capital. There was an overspend at the Department of Education but that is being sorted out. It is of acute interest to me. As Minister of State with responsibility for special education, I want to make sure that no child is left without an appropriate place in September. We are seized of and dealing with the issue. We hope that will all be sorted in due course. I thank Deputies for their Private Member's Bill and for bringing it to my attention.

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