Timmy Dooley (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Deputy Leader at the earliest opportunity to arrange a debate in the House with the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, about Circular 0002/2024, which was issued recently. I spoke to a number of principals in east Clare yesterday evening who made clear to me that this will impact significantly on the work they do as principals. As a result of this circular, they see a further erosion of the hours available to deal with children with special needs. The changes that have been taking place over time do not give schools the capacity to get support based on individual children. Set criteria are now in place for which the schools receive hours of support, including special education tuition. Unfortunately, when a child with significant challenges comes to school, that is not addressed for the child's first years because the school's allocation is based on the standard tests that take place from fourth class onwards. That is impacting significantly on teachers and schools.

I ask that we have a debate at the earliest opportunity to try to understand where the Department and Minister are coming from. I ask in the interim that this circular be abandoned and withdrawn until such time as there is an appropriate level of discussion between principals' representatives, trade unions and the various staff. It is having an impact and has the potential to impact very significantly on them.