Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I first want to acknowledge and thank the representatives of Inclusion Ireland for their attendance today, and all the speakers throughout today's sessions. For me, some of the hardest stories we have heard in recent months and weeks are from parents and children with autism, intellectual disabilities and special educational needs. Some of the stories are on the loss of learning and in some instances, unfortunately, the regression that children are seeing.

My first question is general, because education is not just academic or scholastic. From talking with many parents I am aware of the huge impact also in the loss of socialisation. This has had a hugely detrimental impact on children. I invite a brief comment on that general question.