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

I do have confidence in Cork ETB in respect of special education. A number of years ago, it stepped into the breach to establish the school to provide desperately needed places in an area where children could not get places at the time. We had to take action. For the long term ETBs have a very significant role in special education across the country. That is my view. If we look at how it is evolving, some of the section 39 bodies have pulled back from education so the State has to get more involved in this particular area. The structures of ETBs are such that they have flexibility in providing resources.

On the specific case in Carrigaline, I have been in touch with the ETB and I am fully aware of the difficulties and challenges that have occurred there. We are working with the ETB to provide additional resources to enable that school to operate as optimally and effectively as it can for the benefit of the young people who attend it.

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