Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

I also welcome the former Cathaoirleach.

I am delighted this motion has been tabled as it affords a great opportunity to try to put to bed some of the misinformation that has been circulating in communities throughout the length and breadth of the country. I also have an educational background. In common with everyone else in this Chamber, I do not have a monopoly on what constitutes right and wrong but I will do my best to reflect the views as honestly as I can. In addition, I also have concerns in this regard and understand the concerns of parents who have a child who requires special needs attention. I used to assess children who were making the transition from primary to second level schools. In respect of psychological assessments, we would have in place a chief psychologist, a remedial teacher, a career guidance counsellor, a resource teacher, a special needs person and the parents. That group would decide clearly - it never became political - that if the child in question needed special attention, he or she would receive it. I will never see, under any Government, a child with special needs being deprived at any time.

I was delighted to read the last line of the Minister's speech and will repeat it:

Let me finish by stating a fact, something the Senator's statements are all too often lacking. Any child who needs a special needs assistant ... will get [a special needs assistant].