Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)

The budget for special education is over €3 billion this year. The Deputy will recall that following the budget last week, we will hire over 1,700 additional SNAs and over 860 teachers in special schools and special classes. The first thing I would like to say is that the work being done by the teachers and the teams working in special schools or special classes helping children with additional needs throughout the country is absolutely phenomenal. Phenomenal work is being done by the SNAs. All of the people and the teams willing to work in the special schools or special classes are top of the range and we have to make sure we support them in every way.

The Deputy raised an issue in relation to the ETBs versus the State. It is the duty of the State to open and run special schools throughout the country. Over the decades some of the special schools were developed basically by community organisations and community groups of volunteers that set up and started off in their communities. We are duty bound. We have to ensure that we have the arm of the State, which is the ETBs, working with the Department of education and the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, to develop special schools across the country. I do take the point in relation to resourcing them because there is a particular skill set. I would classify those who work in the special schools and special classes as superhuman beings, be they teachers, leadership or SNAs. We have to support them in a very meaningful way and we have to understand the challenges that are being faced.

The Deputy mentioned two schools at the very outset. I reassure him that we are engaging. The Department and the NCSE are engaging very closely with St. Gabriel's and with the school in Carrigaline. I am in contact with parents who have contacted me. I will continue to be in contact with both schools and both teams to ensure we have proper resolution of any issues there.

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