Ms Martina Mannion:

We would appreciate that. I will hand over to my colleague, Ms Tansey, in a couple of minutes. The Minister referenced something really important, that is, the notion that the exemptions are increasing. If we look at what is happening, we see that our student population is moving from primary to post-primary. That is where the demographics are changing. We have talked about the growth in special education. As we have seen, the figures show that 1.9% of our primary school population now have an exemption. While the numbers are higher at post-primary level, they have not changed in recent years. This reflects the movement of children from primary into post-primary. I refer to the demographics rather than the specific children who have exemptions. It also reflects our understanding of special education. It was initially more targeted at primary level but we are now focusing on supporting special education at post-primary level. The Minister gave that early figure of approximately 1,999 but, at the moment, there are more than 2,500 special classes in our schools. Some 1,700 of those are at primary level while there are only 800 at post-primary level, so it is quite clear that the bulk of our special education children are still at primary level. That is changing, however. In recent years, those children have been moving through. It is absolutely appropriate and right that, if those children need to be supported as they move through their post-primary education, the resources and supports follow them.

With regard to some of the comments Mr. Ó hAinféin made about schools having the resources and supports they need to help support these children, we are putting €2.6 billion, or 27% of our Department's entire budget, towards the provision of resources for children with special educational needs. We know and understand that is essential because we have a completely different understanding of special education now than we did five, ten or 20 years ago. It is really important that, when we talk about ensuring that these children can access the entire educational curriculum, we know and understand that we have to put in that level of resources. Ms Tansey may be able to provide some clarity to the committee on some of the other comments.