Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I have one other question. I am dealing with a school in Carlow which is looking for an ASD unit. We have been working with SENO, and it has decided it is not needed. The school has advised me that it is losing students to other schools with ASD units. When I contacted the Department, I was told that SENO needs to recommend. How do we cross these barriers when schools are looking for them? I know some schools might not have the room to extend. We have been through a pandemic and for the past two years it has been very hard for families to get assessments for their children. This will be a major issue with so many children waiting to be assessed. SENO has informed me that this school in Tullow does not need to build an ASD unit and I am very concerned about that.