Ms Martina Mannion:

If we look at how we support all of our children in schools, it is in that continuum of support. We would say in the first instance that, generally speaking, and I say that in broad brush strokes, it is better for children to be educated in a mainstream setting with supports. Those 19,000 special education teachers are there and dedicated to supporting those children. The step up from that is a special class. There are 25 special classes in the country, including one in Wexford, one in Roscommon, one in Offaly, two in Limerick, one in Laois, two in Kerry, three in Galway, ten in Cork, and two in Cavan. We are opening new special classes as needed. We have opened 11 new special classes in recent years. If there is a need for additional special classes, we will open those special classes. There are 85 children in those primary classes and 37 children in those post-primary classes, which is 122 overall in those classes. We are very willing. I have been here before with the Deputy in this committee talking about the number of special classes we have opened in recent years. We have increased this by hundreds of percent across all areas. We are willing and committed to open the special classes as needed. We see the benefit of that because it allows the child to access the mainstream provision with their peers, in their localities, and with their brothers, sisters and neighbours. If parents are willing to consider that as an option, we would see that as potentially offering them the availability of the additional supports and training within the special class setting without having to leave their local areas. That is our preferred option. We acknowledge that parents choose, in cases, to send children to special schools and we will resource and support those schools as best as resources will allow. We are willing to support those schools to continue to grow and expand and to open as many special classes as otherwise needed.