Mr. Adam Harris:

First, two positives things that have been announced are that no new schools should be built without special classes. That is a useful planning mechanism. I know the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, has indicated a desire to limit the choice around provision to make it a much more defined process. That is important.

When we talk about data, we have to recognise at the moment that the approach by the Department and the NCSE often seems to be getting parents to go around with a clipboard and to demonstrate demand, which is bizarre. It is certainly not the level of sophistication one would expect when we know what the prevalence is, for example, of a variety of disabilities within the community. There is a need to use the available data in a much better and more comprehensive way. I would, however, echo what Ms Dempsey said in terms of the data that we are using at the moment. I have substantial concerns, particularly around the special education teaching model that is being proposed to use for the SNA model and which has not been the subject of consultations in the way a commitment was given it would be.