Mary O'Rourke (Fianna Fail)

I am not indulging them at all. Senator Ulick Burke advised that he needed to leave the Chamber to partake in a radio interview. He welcomed the funding for special needs education at primary level. However, he rightly stated this needs to be carried through to second level. Regarding the home support grants for autism, special classes for autism staffed expertly by very good teachers and special needs assistants are springing up throughout the country. The corollary of this is that if special needs classes for autism are provided, the home support grants, which were given prior to the availability of the special needs classes now being proved in a school setting — I have experience of dealing with people involved — might not be needed. However, I believe with autism they are needed, as a combination of work at school and at home is required to bring forward a child with autism.

Senator Mansergh is rightly exercised about the partnership talks and the sale of the Great Southern Hotels. He believes the issue should not scupper the excellent talks that have started. Senator Norris spoke about gang warfare and the unsavoury circumstances in which migrants are queuing at Burgh Quay to get their passports.

Senator Leyden also spoke about the sale of the Great Southern Hotels and proposed that a public-private partnership would be a good idea. I cannot tell Senator Coghlan anything further. I understood that the Taoiseach and the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Deputy O'Donoghue, had a particular point of view. However, I take their point in that it is not possible to continue to run hotels that are incurring annual debts.

Senator Coghlan asked whether the hotels would be sold as a group or on an individual basis. I believe they should be sold singly because some of them have enormous potential and huge grounds which would allow development. I will endeavour to continue to ascertain the position for the Senator. I understand it might be difficult for him to go into his local pub in Killarney tonight or tomorrow. However, he has raised the matter here on three consecutive days.