Liam Fitzgerald (Fianna Fail)

There will be a meaningful beginning to the provisions of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act in the coming year. A few years ago the entire special education sector received only crumbs. Special education teachers worked hard to bring about a service to meet the needs of these children. There was no framework and despite the best endeavours of teachers, it was hit and miss. We now have a framework, their rights are enshrined in law and substantial additional resources are being targeted to ensure a quality of service is delivered to them.

I am heartened by the fact that, consistent with the Minister's approach to give priority unashamedly to those in greatest need, the increase in the capitation grant for special schools is greater than that of other schools. The rate for children with physical disabilities has almost doubled. The increase in the money for special education is to the extent of about €180 million, almost 30%, and this is significant. At the same time the Minister accepts that much work remains to be done to ensure we bring services to the optimum level for these children.

Tackling disadvantage is another area that has posed a challenge to the education system through the years. Many schemes were devised to try to address this and provide greater equality of opportunity for children who were economically, socially or educationally disadvantaged, or all three, and the links between the three are obvious. It goes without fear of contradiction to say this Government has recognised the important influence parents have on their children's education. Recently the Minister announced an expansion in the number of home-school-community liaison teachers.