Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Leas-Chathaoirleach welcomed the children of Gurteen Central National School from east Galway. These are fifth and sixth class pupils in the school. This epitomises what goes on in Irish education. This is a small, rural school where kids are being looked after, educated and brought through the system. We sometimes do not give our national schools enough credit for the amount of work they do. The principal is here today and he will not be home until late tonight. Again, people do not recognise this.

One of the key issues, and Leas-Chathaoirleach and I have spoken on this, is the shortage of teachers in our country. Panels are not being filled. Special needs teachers - and this is a real bugbear of mine - are being taken out of their special needs roles and are being put in to teach mainstream classes. This goes back to my time in further education. What is happening is the special needs child is being left aside. Senator Clonan spoke on this issue last week. Families have to go to the courts to get an education for their children. That is all fine and dandy for the families who can afford that, but it is not good enough for those who cannot. We should cherish our children an awful lot more.

It is a great source of pride for me to have the kids here from Gurteen Central National School. This is a great day for them, because they know that this House is their House, and not our House. They have as much access to anybody in this House as any other citizen of the State. I am grateful the Leas-Chathaoirleach and all of my colleagues gave them that welcome.