Joe O'Toole (Independent)

Ar an dtaobh eile den scéal, tá múinteoirí san áit chéanna, agus níl na téacsanna acu chun an jab a dhéanamh. Ó thaobh na nGaeltachtaí de, tá seanaithne ag an Aire ar Ghaeltacht Chorca Dhuibhne. Níl dhá bhliain imithe ó bhuaileas isteach go dtí scoil i gceartlár fhoinse na Gaolainne, Scoil Dhún Chaoin — I will name it. Bhuaileas isteach sa rang sóisearach, áit a raibh beirt ón Spáinn, beirt ó Londain agus ní raibh nach mór deichniúr ann. Tá na múinteoirí ansin ag iarraidh an Ghaolainn a chur i bhfeidhm agus a chur chun cinn. Seo an cheist a chuir siad orm. Why can we not have the same appointment ratio as Gaelscoileanna in the Gaeltacht? There is no sense to it. In no place was there 50%. The Minister may respond by saying "An Ghaeltacht, na Gaeltachtaí" but that is the business of some other Minister, not mine. I am informing the Minister of what is happening on the ground.

There is a shortage of every kind of special needs therapist. One can place any word in front of "therapist" and there is a shortage of people to fill the role. The National Educational Psychological Service has not been filled and is not working properly. Pupils are still being denied access to special education. Why are we separating the National Educational Psychological Service from special education? The National Educational Psychological Service does not have access to special education and this must be examined.

I have received a short memorandum on the operation of the Act. When teachers and principles discover a whole new range of assessments, educational plans, appeals and structures to report to in the new national authority, the Minister will hear about it.

The Minister was correct in praising the job done by a principal in Tallaght. I point out to Senator Mansergh that my successors, Mr. John Carr and the current president, Ms Sheila Noonan, are doing a far better job than I did. If I pass on the Minister's comments they will tell me that fine words are great but the Minister did not state she will support the elimination of the anomaly between first and second level schools. That should be done.