Ann Ormonde (Fianna Fail)

I will let the case rest on that statement. I would welcome a review as any new concept that has been taken on board should be reviewed. The EPSEN Act was introduced in 2004 and I identify with the point made by Senator O'Toole about the desirability of having a step-by-step procedure. The way forward is to ensure that no special education needs organiser, SENO, will decide that a child does not require a special needs assistant. That is a group decision by the school, which is able to make such a decision. The point is that one does not want special needs assistants to be in the building in cases where the child might have left the school and gone elsewhere. The aim is to integrate the child into the mainstream as far as possible and that should be the special needs assistant's aim. It is to be welcomed when a special needs assistant can do this and can try to provide independence to the child. Moreover, it is important to note that this scheme still is in place and the criteria for the allocation of special needs assistants remain the same. When a pupil qualifies for support, special needs assistant posts will continue. There is no question of the special needs assistant post being removed from schools that meet the scheme's criteria. Any child who needs a special needs assistant will get one.