Fidelma Healy Eames (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yes. We need a real debate on this issue. A huge amount of money is being spent on special educational needs in this country. This is critical to ensure a level playing field for children. We must find a new way of managing resources to ensure all children are treated fairly. This may require expert additional training for our resource and classroom teachers and, in particular, special needs assistants the current remit of whom is around the welfare needs of the child. We must consider whether they should also be required to care for the educational needs of such children. Having engaged in supervision of classrooms, I know they do so in some cases. We have a crisis on our hands and must face up to it. These children matter.