Ulick Burke (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 4:

In page 19, between lines 14 and 15, to insert the following:

"(4) In exercising powers under subsection (1), special provision shall be made in respect of the increased demands placed on schools, in particular, Gaelscoileanna.".

This amendment would ensure that children with special educational needs have the same rights to avail of and benefit from education as their peers.

It may be obvious that a child should go to a Gaelscoil but this choice will be denied because so many Gaelscoileanna are in their infancy and have totally inadequate facilities. If a child with special needs had a choice or his parents wanted him to go to a Gaelscoil because of their own linguistic background or their determination that the child will be educated through Irish, they will be deterred from going to a Gaelscoil instead of to a mainstream school. If the parents of a child with special needs want him to go to a Gaelscoil, there must be a clear indication that resources will be found for the adequate provision of services in that school. Most of the Gaelscoileanna established in the last decade are still in unacceptable accommodation and lacking facilities. We must highlight those schools because their needs are greater than any other school.