Mr. Hubert Loftus:

When I am thinking of my work, my general reference point is more the national development plan and Project Ireland in 2018 than looking at the life spans of particular Governments. In respect of special schools, when I look at the projects that we have delivered or have in train, we are hitting around half of them in terms of modernisation, adding capacity and all of that. That is very important.

Wherever we can, we look to doing new special schools on existing campus sites to maximise the integration and inclusion opportunities there for students as well. I will ask Ms. Mannion to come in a bit more generally about the engagement because we have done a huge amount of work across the planning and building unit, special education, and with the National Council For Special Education, NCSE, in terms of planning permission provision generally in the whole area of special needs. I acknowledge the point made by the Deputy about the great progress being made. I am very proud of the work we do in the planning and building unit and our team in Tullamore-----