Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There is an issue with disability services and CDNT teams. My view is that the progressing disability programme has not worked. The progressing disability policy was announced in 2013 and it simply has not worked and we need to change it. I have been working with the HSE and various education and equality bodies. Parents and children cannot wait any longer. This should not impede the provision of school places and, to be fair, the NCSE with the Department of Education have expanded classrooms, special classes and special schools. We need to make sure that every child gets a place next September. I will take it on board. If there are particular children I will go back to the Department of Education and we will see what we can do urgently to get places for children with special needs in the appropriate settings for them.

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