Mary Ann O'Brien (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to again raise the savage and unacceptable cuts in the area of special needs. On the Leader's statement in the House yesterday that there have been no cuts, I met yesterday afternoon with staff at a school in Killinarden, Tallaght, who told me the school had applied for 90 resource hours and was granted only 33 hours and that its special needs assistant staff has been reduced from seven to six despite that it will be taking on four new special needs students this year. Clearly, there are cuts in this area which, as I stated earlier, are savage and unacceptable.

Senator Mooney referred to the constant reference to softer budgets and that green shoots have at long last appeared. Why then in God's name are we attacking the most vulnerable?