Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their presentation. It is estimated that 23% to 25% of people have disabilities, generally. I assume that filters down into those of school-going age in a similar fashion. Mr. Kearney stated that there are 3,000 special classes for more than 18,000 children, with 1,800 special classes having been added in the past three years. He stated that the NCSE will lead in opening another 600 in the next two years and will assist in opening four special schools in September, with special schools nationwide providing for the needs of more than 9,000 children. Do we really know the number of people involved? The ambition is to provide 600 more special classes in the next two years. Is that sufficient on the basis of the figures to which I referred? Do we have a vision of the future and what is needed? I am curious about that and how it is judged.

I am also curious about the issue of language. In recent years, many immigrants have come in. There are people with disabilities in immigrant communities. How does the NCSE deal with that? Does it add an extra burden? Does it cause extra problems? I have not heard reference to how the issue of language is handled.

A report from the NCSE indicated significant growth in the overall number of post-primary special classes from 2010 to 2022. Was there corresponding growth in the number of primary classes?