Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for all of her engagement. The real point of everything that I am pressing is the need for a degree of flexibility with regard to those ASD classes. The schools that I have referenced are Ballycar National School and Kilmihil National School, but there are many more throughout the country. To my mind, it cannot be so rigid that they can only take six, and if there is no space, people have to go over the road. That does not always work in a rural area. I can give the Minister detailed specifics on both school cases. I believe there needs to be a degree of flexibility and a degree of foresight, knowing that September 2024 and September 2025 will be different. We have to meet the needs of three and four-year-olds who will very soon be entering the primary school system. Both schools already have an incredible system to cater for special needs but this would be the icing on the cake. They are willing to do it, they are asking what the Minister is looking for and they are willing to drive this home. They just need a little flexibility and the whole thing will get set up. I thank the Minister for everything she is doing.