Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

That is welcome. I will address my next questions to the Minister of State. Comments have been made about the full resumption of schooling for people with special needs and those with an ASD diagnosis. I reiterate those comments. All of us on this call acknowledge that remote learning is no substitute for on-site learning or in-class teaching. Several speakers have said that and I add my voice to theirs. The April date must be considered for children with an ASD diagnosis or special educational needs.

My final question concerns a site for a new special school in Cork. I have raised this issue several times with the Minister of State. I understand a meeting took place last week, but I am not sure who met the Minister of State and her officials. What was the outcome of that meeting? Has anybody in the Department contacted the Cope Foundation regarding the next stage of this process? I understand representatives of the Cope Foundation have twice written to the Department to try to progress the case for a new special needs school in Cork, but I am not sure if they have received any response yet. If she can, will the Minister of State clarify if that meeting took place? Have any efforts been made to communicate with the Cope Foundation in the interim to update it on where we stand regarding this project?