Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Deputy Ó Laoghaire might be aware that approximately 1.5% of children internationally have special education needs, SEN. It is the same in Ireland. They are the children with the most complex needs. Approximately 8,500 children with special education needs, SEN, are in primary school and approximately 4,500 of those are back. Approximately 4,000 who are in third to sixth class are not yet back. As I said in my opening statement, special education teaching, SET, is prioritising the children in those years.

Other children with special education needs, SEN, with less complicated needs, are integrated into a mainstream class. Many of them are high impact, low incidence, such as dyslexia. They were never envisaged as the first cohort, as a priority, as they are well integrated into mainstream.

According to the Department and following agreement with education stakeholders, part of the rationale for that is that it is in the best interests of these children to come back as part of mainstream because they are so well integrated into mainstreams. There are approximately 10,000 children with SENs who will return to full classes in due course with all other students. The other rationale, of course, is the cautious phased approach that NPHET has recommended. It remains my absolute intention for all children with SENs to get back to school as soon as possible. We have the supplementary programme, which I have mentioned, to support these children in the interim and we have extended the supplementary programme for a further two weeks for children in third to sixth classes.