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

I thank all the officials present today. I acknowledge all the increases in the number of teachers, SNAs, ASD units and special education units nationally. I acknowledge the good work that is being done and in the debate today we need to be aware of the progress being made. However, an earlier speaker referred to pinch points and there are undoubtedly a number of these across the country. As Deputy Ó Laoghaire mentioned, Cork is one of them.

As a broad point, should we be talking about sections 29 and 37 and the various mechanisms? The reality is we should not be talking about them. People should have access to a school place without having to resort to those mechanisms. What witnesses are hearing from Deputies is the frustration from parents who are blocked in the system.

With particular reference to Cork, I spoke previously in the education committee regarding a new school. Perhaps Mr. Murtagh of the building unit could clarify what progress has been made on the new school in Cork in terms of identifying a site and a building for conversion in the short term. In Cork, we have 23 families who, as of next September, will have no place for their child who has an ASD need or a profound intellectual disability. We also have approximately 100 students on the spectrum in Cork who do not have full access to an ASD unit. Schools are managing as best they can. That is the situation on the ground in Cork and services need to catch up. It is fine to say services have increased by X or Y per cent but we need to recognise and cite the extra demand on services and the extra number of diagnoses that are made every year. That would help inform the debate. What is the position regarding the new school in Cork? As I understand it, a couple of buildings have been assessed but still nothing has been recommended as far as I can see or hear.