Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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Question 36: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her role in ensuring the welfare of children with special needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19812/11]

Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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Question 67: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her role in ensuring the welfare of children with special needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19814/11]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 36 and 67 together.

As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs I have a wide ranging perspective on the many social and economic policies across Government which relate to children. Government colleagues obviously have particular responsibilities in relation to special needs: for example the Minister for Education and Skills in relation to education, the Minister for Health in the provision of health supports and the Minister for Transport in arranging for the provision of accessible transport services. The decision to establish a dedicated Minister for Children and Youth Affairs reflects this Government's wish to achieve an overall policy framework which is in the interests of children.