Earlier, the Tánaiste acknowledged that PDS is continuing to fail as a policy in terms of providing for the needs of children, particularly in special schools. I want to raise the pilot scheme that the Tánaiste referenced as well earlier in relation to the reintroduction of therapists into special schools. The Tánaiste referenced that there were considerable roadblocks to this pilot being reintroduced. It took the HSE nearly four weeks from the return of schools to touch base with the schools that were chosen as part of the initial six special schools. As the Tánaiste will be aware, there is a further ten schools that are earmarked to be announced at the end of October. Bearing in mind that the HSE's tardiness in touching base with those six schools, I urge that those next ten be brought forward for decision. The reason I ask is that there is a provision for private funding of therapists to be used as an interim measure and, as the Tánaiste will be well aware, St. Killian's in my constituency has that private therapy team lined up ready to go but they are all awaiting that announcement of the further ten schools. I urge the Tánaiste to try and bring that date forward.

First, I thank the Deputy, who has been pursuing this issue for quite some time. In my view, on the pilot scheme, I would prefer a much wider scheme. We are three parties in government. I have very clear views as to what we need to do now and that is a wholly school-based multidisciplinary delivery model. On the issues around recruitment of therapists, the HSE clearly has issues in terms of recruiting therapists.

This was a pilot that was agreed between all of the different parties - the National Council for Special Education, HSE, education and health - and there were still delays in getting the first six off the ground. That is now happening but it illustrates the kind of deep-rooted resistance to this model of in-school delivery and a multidisciplinary model within schools.

I am hoping the next ten schools will come on stream as quickly as possible and that they will be announced certainly before the end of this year.