Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the Chamber today and in particular for all the work she is doing and the commitment she has made in the past two years in regard to special education and inclusion. It is hugely significant. The impact is evident from the numbers of people working in the sector such as special needs assistants, SNAs, and the number of new classrooms being opened. Another 315 new classrooms are being opened in September. The impact of that in recent years is visible in any school or constituency in the country. The Department of Education is spending €2 billion on special education, which is more than at any time in the past. That is significant and represents about one quarter of the total budget of the Department.

Every couple of weeks, we see new school buildings or extensions being built in County Tipperary. A large new school has just been built and opened in Cahir in the past two weeks. In recent year, the Government has provided massive financial support for upgrading and extending school buildings and for new schools. Part of this has been for classrooms for special needs education, which is a requirement for all new buildings and extensions. This is really important. I see the need for those classrooms in Tipperary. When new classrooms are opened there is an influx of people who want to use them, and a waiting list as well. The demand is there.

In my parish of Ardfinnan I have spoken to the principal of the national school, Ms Bríd Quinlivan, a number of times. The school has had an occupational therapy room for more than ten years and it now needs upgrading, improvement and extra equipment. As Members know, all schools can apply under different schemes for funding for extra equipment and upgrading schools. However, due to the number of special educational classrooms and occupational therapy rooms in schools, it would be beneficial for the Department to provide for these rooms and classrooms separately in schemes. Ardfinnan National School was one of the first national schools to open an occupational therapy room. It accommodates about 32 pupils, which is about 10% of the total. The Department should have a scheme focused on upgrading facilities and equipment in special educational classrooms and occupational therapy rooms, rather than addressing this as part of a general scheme for upgrading classrooms. It would place a priority on principals and schools to identify the need to do this. The Department and the Minister of State have viewed this issue as a priority in the past two years. We support schools always, and the Minister of State in particular has done so in the past two years. However, a focused scheme would make it simpler for principals to identify what they can do in terms of upgrading and facilitating special education classrooms. As well as the principal, I spoke to a teacher in Ardfinnan National School, Monica Griffin. They are both very passionate about the work they do. All they want is the best for the kids who are with them every day. They love their jobs but it is about having the best equipment possible to serve the children in the school. I thank the Minister of State for coming in and for the support she has given this sector.