Ms Martina Mannion:

I thank Mr. Murtagh and the Deputy. On the Deputy's first point, I reiterate that the Department does not wish to see parents having to trigger legislative provisions in section 29 nor does the Department wish to trigger section 37 processes to ensure provision is available. All the steps and processes the Department and the NCSE have in place are specifically to ensure we have sufficient provision. I accept the issue that the Deputy and other Deputies have raised in relation to the challenge identified, particularly in Cork. We are conscious there are students who have requirements for special school and special class placements. We are working through a number of engagements with the management bodies and stakeholders in the Cork area in relation to how this might be delivered, including expansion of existing special schools and looking, together with patrons, at the possibility of providing special school placements. It is an ongoing process.

We are working through it with the patrons and with the local groups in Cork with a view to trying to find a solution. We are conscious that the parents need us to come back on that as quickly as possible. Our absolute focus at the moment is to be able to provide that clarity to those parents and to people in Cork as a matter of urgency.