Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

That is rubbish.

In the few remaining days of this session it is unlikely that the Minister for Education and Science will attend the House to debate education. Many parents and principals are seriously concerned about the weighted model for the appointment of special needs teachers which the Minister has introduced. He has clearly indicated and admitted that some schools will win while others will lose out. The problem is he is under the false impression that those schools which will lose out are those which have been over-resourced, to use the words in his statement.

It is important that the Leader should ask the Minister mmediately to review this weighted model he introduced with a view to continuing the service that has been guaranteed on assessment to many children who are in need of special education throughout the country. By next September they will have lost out and it is unlikely the service will be reinstated.