Vol. 566 No. 5
85 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has satisfied himself with the situation where telephone calls in the special education section of his Department are not answered on Tuesdays and Thursdays; if he intends to provide a full time phone service in this section; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13256/03]
The arrangements in place in my Department's special education section for answering telephone calls are necessary to enable the staff of that section to deal with the substantial number of applications for various resources for pupils with special needs, together with requests for the establishment of additional special educational facilities and all associated queries.
Currently, all telephones in the section are open to callers all day on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Three lines in the section remain open on Tuesdays and Thursdays for emergency calls. This arrangement will continue for the foreseeable future to ensure the allocation of much-needed supports for special needs pupils.
Questions Nos. 86 and 87 answered with Question No. 83.
