Ms Helen Walsh:

In regard to County Clare, we are aware of issues. We were aware of issues in Ennis, in particular. Certainly the forecasting model that we work from is identifying a bubble at primary level and the need to try to match that at post-primary level. Our SENOs are doing that work almost years ahead of time. They have done that work for quite a long period of time, particularly in areas where primary school growth and demand for special classes is growing. It is inevitable that we will need post-primary places within a period of one, two or three years. That work is ongoing. However, I am eager to speak with the Deputy in relation to that particular issue and where specifically in County Clare it might be.

The other issue raised is complex. It concerns the needs of a child being defined, to some extent, by a report. The reality, or the experience of the child, was that their needs were not met within mainstream school. The needs of the child proved to be very challenging maybe for the school. Maybe the school was not the right place for the child to be, the supports may not have been sufficient or whatever the case may be. The child went from that to home tuition, not having been in a special school context.

Those types of cases do not come to our attention very frequently but they are definitely compounded in situations where the language of a parent is not English, if that is the case. Our SENOs do their best in that space but we are aware that there may be difficulties in trying to ensure smoother transitions so it is not all or nothing in the sense that a student leaves a particular place, goes to another location and has nothing.

There is something interesting in that context in respect of the European averages of students who need a special class or a special school. Some 5% of students across Europe need some level of scaffolding. Perhaps the question will in the long term have less to do with the actual placement and more to do with the quality and level of scaffolding supports that are needed within a particular location. There is obviously a lot of work to do in that regard. We would need to drill into the particular case raised by the Deputy to ensure we understand the particulars so we can respond appropriately.

Mr. Kearney referenced the special educational teacher, SET, model. I am not sure if I missed another of the Deputy's questions.