Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome our Acting Leader to the House. Yesterday, the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland held a briefing in Buswells Hotel for Members of the Oireachtas around the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill and the medium-term Future of Media Commission report. I think we all recognise that local radio plays a huge and important role in urban and rural communities across Ireland. I commend all those involved in local radio and ask that we as a House have a debate with the Minister on the future of local radio. We have had the Bill which is going through the Houses of the Oireachtas but yesterday's briefing spoke about a number of very important issues around the broadcasting levy and the implementation of the Future of Media Commission report recommendations on the funding of local radio. We gave huge acknowledgement to local newspapers with the reduction of VAT so surely it is time, in the context of the broadcasting levy, to look at how we support local radio. As a Government, we gave money in the budget to RTÉ and TG4 all of which we support, but there is a need to have a look at how we can support independent local radio.

My second request is that the Minister of State at the Department of Education with responsibility for special education and inclusion, Deputy Madigan, would come to the House to have a debate on special schools. Special schools, to my understanding, are not sanctioned for the post of home school liaison officers. We must give consideration to expanding this position to special schools, which require home school liaison officers far more than any other school community. It is important. If we look at why, and who attends our special schools, then the whole issue of home school community is one that we can debate. Those attending do not have a community of their own. They come from a myriad of communities. Again, it is about the scaffolding of support we put around the school, the child and the families of those with special needs. These pupils deserve the same support as those in a regular school. I hope the Minister of State will come to the House as a matter of urgency for this very important debate.