David Norris (Independent)

I also welcome the Members of the House of Keys, which is referred to in James Joyce's Ulysses. I join with Senator Brian Hayes in expressing concern about the special needs assistants being let go. This is extraordinary as there is a need for these people. It should not be beyond the wit of the Department to redeploy them rather than getting rid of them and then rehiring them or others. I listened to a discussion on this and understand that one of the problems cited by the Department is that these posts are client centred and deal with the needs of particular children but it should be possible to find other children in the network who could benefit. Failure to redeploy these people when they are so urgently needed is grossly inefficient.