Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy pointed out the important role special schools play with regard to the movement of pupils from primary to post-primary. I can absolutely assure him that in my engagement with the Minister, Deputy Foley, and the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, and formerly with her predecessor, Deputy Madigan, the importance of special schools is fully recognised by the Department of Education. In any discussion I have had with them on capital funding, special schools have been given the status they deserve. They will always make the case for more money for any kind of school building and will always say they can spend more and will always look for more from me, but in the settlement we have reached on capital funding, that Department has always raised special schools and I have done my best to find the funding to move forward on them because I know how important they are. I have seen them in action myself.

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