Rónán Mullen (Independent)

I second the amendment. I apologise to Senators and the Minister for my late arrival. I was attending to other business around the Houses. The amendment returns us to the issues we discussed on Committee Stage. I ask the Minister to reconsider his position on this matter. The amendment effectively proposes to reverse the deletion of section 2(1)(f) and would have the effect of reversing the exclusion of speech therapy services from the definition of "support services". Likewise, amendment No. 2 proposes to reverse the substitution of paragraph (n) with a new paragraph (n) so as to maintain a role for the Minister in consulting the appropriate health authorities on the provision of support services.

I listened to the Minister's contribution on these matters on Committee Stage. When I revisited the text I noted that the language elsewhere in the Bill refers to what the Minister may do, for example, he "may" request assistance. Amendment No. 3 proposes to reverse the repeal of section 7(5) and (6), as inserted by section 40 of the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act, which provides that the Minister may request the assistance of the relevant health authority. The Department and Minister have a function in this area.