Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

I mentioned on Second Stage that we have already involved the Department of Finance in education and the situation is now further complicated by the involvement of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. One does not have to turn the clock back far to realise how ineffective the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform has been in exercising those aspects of child education committed to its control. There was no place to detain those children in the first instance. We now find ourselves in a position where the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform will be drawn into the system of continuing education for people with special educational needs. I regret that the Minister of State cannot offer us anything better by way of guarantee of continuity within the Department of Education and Science. The Minister for Education and Science should have control of education for the child. The Minister of State said the school principal will be aware that there must be continuity in a child's education and he reassured the House that the principal will endorse the education plan so that there will be continuity and no disruption will be caused to the parents or the child. I am happy with the section.