Education is not about turning out automatons to benefit society economically, the Dáil has been told.
The Green Party's finance spokesman, Mr Dan Boyle, said that education "is about enhancing the potential of each human being".
"The difficulty with education for people with disability, particularly for those with an intellectual disability, is that the State has constantly asked how this can be justified economically and how people can earn a future capacity to economically justify their place in society."
The Cork South-Central TD was speaking during the debate on the Education for People with Disabilities Bill.
The Minister for Education, Mr Dempsey, said he fully accepted "the necessity for continuity, joined-up thinking, joined-up Government and joined-up Civil Service thinking in regard to people with special needs, particularly between the Departments of Health and Education".
He said: "We have a long way to go on this," but "there are provision in the Bill which we think will take us a distance along this route".
The Bill provides for the education of children with special needs in mainstream schools.
The legislation also sets out a range of services which must be provided, including assessments, individual education plans and support services and it provides for a process of mediation and appeals where such needs are not met.
Welcoming the Bill, Mr Johnny Brady (FF, Meath) said that society had to learn to change its attitude towards those with special needs.
"We must also understand that children with special needs are fantastic people who will enrich the lives of the other children in their classes under an inclusive educational system."
Mr Bernard Durkan (FG, Kildare North) said there were economic benefits to investment in special-needs education. "If a child with special needs has access to a reasonable standard of education, he or she will become capable of competing in society and of gaining access to the circle which prohibited such children from participating fully in the past."
Mr Pat Carey (FF, Dublin North-West) said that "pass the parcel" was forever being played between the health boards and schools, but the Bill was "coherent legislation and a huge step forward".
The Bill now goes to committee stage.
