Rónán Mullen (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ministers and the civil servants for attending the meeting.

The Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, said schools have been asked to prioritise deployment of their special education teacher resources to facilitate engagement of pupils in third to sixth classes. Does that mean there might be negative consequences for those children with special needs who are back at school? When she says "prioritise", does she mean that there will be a lessening of the availability of special education teaching resources to those children from junior infants to second class who are actually back at school?

The Minister, Deputy Foley, referred to the fact that legislation will be needed to achieve the accredited grade systems completion by the State Examinations Commission. What exactly is it that requires legislative change? While I understand the Minister's desire to have it all put through as expeditiously as possible, there is frustration in the Oireachtas about the lack of time made available to the Dáil and Seanad to properly scrutinise legislation. Will she guarantee that this legislation will be before the Oireachtas in time for us to have proper debate and scrutiny, not all Stages in one day and that kind of thing which does not inspire confidence in the political system?