Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 11:

In page 9, between lines 36 and 37, to insert the following subsection:

"(2) Assessments required pursuant to subsection (1) may be carried out within the public or private sector.".

This amendment indicates the position in terms of delay in this regard. I referred to the case of an emigrant who on returning home with her family, having been accustomed to adequate and sophisticated support mechanisms in the United States under their education system, found that the Department of Education and Science officials would not reply to an independent assessment she had had arranged to have professionally carried out, having realised the inadequacy of the service here. Where there is an obvious vacuum and shortage of specialised people to carry out such an assessment, I ask that the Department sanction and approve an independent assessment.

In any given year, only 35 additional special needs teachers are being trained in Mary Immaculate College in Limerick. We must recognise that there are professional people who can carry out such an assessment. To avoid further sentences on children owing to such delays, the assessments of such professionals, conducted at the parents' expense, should be recognised by the Department. Will the Minister of State allow for the recognition of assessments made through both the private and public systems given that doing so would not involve a further cost on the Department?