Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)

It seems that those numbers have dropped off from an earlier parliamentary question I asked. We are now talking about 98, which is the figure the group I met were spoken to about, whereas there was a plan for 101. Three classes have now dropped off. I would like to think everything will be done to make sure that is delivered because we are dealing with a lack of provision. I think the Minister of State said it as well in relation to the NCSE and SENOs. I am aware of people doing a huge level of work but we also know that for families this is incredibly stressful. Nobody knows if they will actually get a place. I am also aware of an issue in the last while - a huge amount of people spoke about their kid being autistic with an intellectual disability and they are looking at a number of schools. In some special schools, they fall below the criteria and in others they do not have sufficient difficulties to fall into that school. It adds to problems. I got a call last night about it before I came into the Chamber. The people who spoke to me said there are 24 individual places for the whole county. It is nowhere near the necessary target capacity. There are 75 special needs classes at primary level and 23 and secondary level. It is expected that demand will exceed the current supply of 24 places in 21 classes. That states exactly what the situation is. There is not enough capacity. We must make sure that is delivered.

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