Mr. John Kearney:

I thank the Deputy for those questions. There has been significant growth in the number of special classes in recent times. In the introduction I alluded to the fact that a threshold of 3,000 special classes has been reached. We will be very much on track with the opening of an additional 400 special classes this year, but the gaps are there in terms of inspiring confidence in parents in regard to wider access to mainstream provision. Significant further direct engagement with parents and confidence-building are required to establish trust in the benefits and returns of wider access to the curriculum itself.

Again, it is envisaged with the policy advice that more development of the curriculum is required. From our direct engagement with parents, the main reservation they frequently expressed to us in opting for specialist provision was the lack of a robust curriculum throughout the post-primary equivalent in regard to progression pathways from levels 1 and 2 at senior cycle. That is being addressed. I hope it will rectify some of the delays and fears parents have about the specialist provision. The peer-to-peer engagement with students in larger school settings requires more progressive work to allay some of the fears in that regard.

Perhaps Ms Doran would like to address some of the issues.