Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

I suggest respectfully that the Department officials either do not officially acknowledge those assessments or just avoid them to make sure they are in control. I do not know the reasoning behind their decisions, especially in respect of cases where everything was done legitimately. I refer particularly to an instance with which I am very familiar and which I have raised twice with the Minister. It has been ignored by the officials in the Department of Education and Science since last November. One cannot have it both ways. What is envisaged will not happen with a throughput of 35 new special needs teachers per annum.

In response to questioning by Deputy Enright, the Minister admitted clearly in the House recently that some will win and some will lose. These are his words, not mine. Obviously, bearing in mind that he admitted the inadequacy of the new model he is introducing for the allocation of special needs teachers where they are needed, this situation cannot continue. The process should be opened up through recognition of private sector assessments.