Mr. Adam Harris:

We need to move beyond the hesitancy because it does not have a role in the discussion. Even during the recent 37A process that looked at south Dublin, it was noted in the responses of some schools that they had to expand because the population grew. In other words, it was a recognition that sometimes they had to expand beyond their means to meet the needs of the children in the locality. I do not think they are exempt from that obligation if some children happen to be autistic. There are concrete things we can do. One is that a process such as the 37A process needs to take place much earlier in the year in order that people have time to plan. There needs to be much better co-ordination between the building section of the Department and the sanctioning of an autism class in order that the school can get the supports and set it up to succeed. Involve Autism in the Deputy's locality is doing great work on this. There are not more autistic people in one part of Dublin versus another. There is a very clear correlation. This comes back to the question Deputy Ó Ríordáin asked, that is, why we do have an education system? It must be about equality of opportunity and every child having the best chance. We cannot allow academic prestige or tradition to supersede that.