Govt votes down Dáil motion on special-needs classes

The Government has voted down a Dáil motion calling for the reversal of its decision to abolish 128 special-needs classes in schools around the country.

The motion was tabled by Fine Gael, which has accused the Government of failing to understand the reality of special-needs provision in Irish schools.

It says the proposal to abolish classes would have been rejected out of hand by any minister with a good grasp of the situation.

However, speaking during the debate on the matter last night, Education Minister Batt O'Keefe said Fianna Fáil-led coalitions had spent more than €1bn on special needs education in the past 11 years, transforming the ability of schools to provide for all children.