Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I raise an issue related to special education. Since the Minister and the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, assumed their roles they have been doing their best to try to get to grips with the crisis we are facing in special education in particular. I taught in a classroom for 15 years. It was always a struggle to find people to teach special education. Historically it has always been that way. The problem has become more acute as the years have gone by. We recognise teachers who teach in the Gaeltacht and on the islands and they get an allowance for that. It is high time for recognition to be given to special education teachers because many teachers, like me, could walk into a special school in the morning and teach, but are not trained to do it. Special recognition needs to be considered in the upcoming budget. The provision of an allowance might entice more people to get into that profession.

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