Ms Martina Mannion:

I thank the Deputy. On the first point, special schools can cater for children once they start primary school right up to 18 years of age. If a special class is attached to a mainstream primary school, at the end of sixth class, because it is part of the mainstream primary school, the child would move on to a post-primary placement at that point or, if parents prefer, move into a special school placement if they felt that best met their child's needs. In those circumstances, it is probably fair to say it is not in the best interests of the child who is 12 or over to remain in a mainstream primary school, even if they are in a special class, because that is probably not the best place to meet their educational needs. Special schools can cater for children up to 18 years of age. In those circumstances, the normal process would be that the children would move to a special class in a post-primary school or move to a special school. That is a global explanation of how the special classes attaching to the system work.

With regard to the question of children with dual diagnosis in Cork in particular, the Deputy has identified the issue in regard to children with autism. As well as dual diagnosis, the issue for us as a Department, in working with the NCSE and stakeholders, is to ensure there is enough provision available for all children, regardless of diagnosis, in the Cork area. I want to reassure the Deputy and other Deputies that we are acutely aware of that issue in Cork. We are working tirelessly to ensure we have appropriate provision available in the Cork area to meet the needs, regardless of the diagnosis for those children.

It is important to again reassure committee members that, in order to trigger special education resources, people do not need a diagnosis. How our provision of resources has been set up in more recent years has moved away from the need to have a diagnosis and to focus more on the needs of the individual child.

We can discuss the issue further with the Deputy at any point if he so wishes.