Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)

We all know that when a child presents with special needs and needs special assistance, it places a massive burden on his or her parents. The parents would prefer to see something wrong with themselves rather than their child. The Minister of State and I know that we do not need reports. We need funding. We need more specialist teachers and places and we need to speed up the assessment of need process because early intervention is paramount when dealing with these children. It needs to be addressed at as young as possible.

Kerry seems to be very hit very badly. I am sure we all get representations. The Minister of State knows the story. I am not saying anything much about the report because we do not need it. What we need is action. I am depending on the Minister of State to carry out that action as Minister with this portfolio. I am asking him to do his best as I know he will.

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