Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

More important still is the need to ascertain whether, in next year's allocation, the complex needs of individual students will be disregarded within the criteria. Will the Minister of State clarify that? Where a student has a multitude of complex issues, will that be disregarded? If that is the case, it is a retrograde step. It is not just me saying this. I genuinely have no interest in coming into this Chamber and expounding my own view as an individual TD. I have been contacted by a variety of TDs, principals, SNAs and parents throughout my constituency and beyond who fully believe that the experience of individual students will be disregarded under the new system. If that is the case, it will be a retrograde step. I think the Minister of State will agree with me on that.

Is it the case that the Department of Education has reduced the criteria considered for the allocation of SET hours for schools from five to three for the coming year? We can also agree that, if so, it is another retrograde step. Will the Minister of State clarify whether there is to be a retrograde step in terms of the individual experience of students in schools and, second, whether the number of criteria is being reduced from five to three? I would love to be proven wrong on this.

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