It is totally incorrect for the Deputy to say there is wholesale closure of special schools. That is not the case. The Department's policy is as far as possible to integrate slow learners into the normal education process, providing the necessary resources for specialist education and specialist services to those children in the normal education environment.
It is not correct to say that there is major disquiet among educationalists about this matter. They are pushing the Department to get on with this development, and we are very satisfied with the positive nature of the development. Only last night I indicated to the Deputy's colleague from Limerick that we are developing speech therapy services in Limerick, and that is also being done in other places throughout the country.
In the case of the Galway school, I wish the Deputy would be a little more responsible in terms of his attitude to the efforts being made there. I assure him that parents have been consulted — and will be consulted——