Fergal Browne (Fine Gael)

Last Tuesday I raised the issue of special needs assistants for schools. I ask the Leader to invite the Minister for Education and Science to the House to clarify whether students who are currently receiving special needs assistance will receive the same service in the next school year and for the remainder of the school term. There seems to be confusion in that regard. I am aware of some parents who discovered their children were not on the list and contacted the Department of Education and Science to be told they had made a mistake and that the children are receiving special needs assistance.

I would like the Minister to explain why a circular relating to a decision on the appointment of teachers and principals which was made last March arrived in schools only this week, because this will have severe implications for procedure. Given how it has handled this whole situation, the Department of Education and Science is not the smartest Department in the class.