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

I appreciate what the Deputy is saying. Obviously, children with special needs were always a concern for the Government. That is why special schools originally went back on 11 February to 50% capacity. They are now, thankfully, at 100% capacity since Monday. Special classes have been back since 22 February and, as the Deputy knows, so too have junior infants up to second class. There are children with special educational needs, SENs, within those classrooms, but obviously, everybody is not back.

Progress reports are given at the summer provision, which we are expanding this year. There were 24,000 children eligible for it last year and 14,000 took a place. We extended and expanded it to Down's syndrome, post-primary and preschool children, and hope to expand it further this year. That will help in terms of regression. Those progress reports will be given to the schoolteachers in September when those children go back. It is really important that we try to do everything we can to support them.