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

First, I thank the Deputy, who has been pursuing this issue for quite some time. In my view, on the pilot scheme, I would prefer a much wider scheme. We are three parties in government. I have very clear views as to what we need to do now and that is a wholly school-based multidisciplinary delivery model. On the issues around recruitment of therapists, the HSE clearly has issues in terms of recruiting therapists.

This was a pilot that was agreed between all of the different parties - the National Council for Special Education, HSE, education and health - and there were still delays in getting the first six off the ground. That is now happening but it illustrates the kind of deep-rooted resistance to this model of in-school delivery and a multidisciplinary model within schools.

I am hoping the next ten schools will come on stream as quickly as possible and that they will be announced certainly before the end of this year.

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