Ms Martina Mannion:

I have just a couple of points to add there. Deputy Canney is right that the key issue for parents is getting good information and supporting them to help them to make the right decisions about educational placement. That is a key function of the NCSE. A key part of its role is to engage with parents at an early stage to make sure that they have all of the information on the appropriate school places in their area.

One of the challenges that had been faced by parents was those gaps in services from the NCSE. I know, for example, that there has been a SENO vacancy in the Galway area and in the Mayo area and I am pleased to say that both of those vacancies are being filled so people will see that those SENOs are back on the ground.

On waiting for services, because children have a constitutional entitlement to be in school, all children can access education immediately from the age of four, although people tend to go in a bit later now because of the early childhood care and education system. Once the children are approaching school age or are in schools, we are making the resources and provision available. For example, in Galway this year we opened 18 new special classes. We have plans to open 70 more special classes in Galway in the next three years to cater for children who will need them and furthermore, we will have the teachers and SNAs in mainstream education. There is the key matter of the NCSE helping and guiding parents as to what the best placement for them is in an educational context. We must fill the vacancies and then we hope those additional staff coming into the NCSE will make a big difference for parents by having more direct contact with the NCSE on the ground.