Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the representatives from AsIam, Down Syndrome Ireland and Inclusion Ireland for being before the committee today. I know there is much frustration with regard to this new model. There has been a big impact in how hours are allocated. I have a few questions. I know my colleagues have gone through a great deal with the witnesses over the past few hours. I thank them for all the detail they have provided. There is a concern from the Department around the availability of existing resources at post-primary level. What are the witnesses' thoughts on the availability of SET hours at post-primary level? That was a reason it was looking at this model.

On exemptions, the Educational Research Centre, ERC, and the NCCA, when talking about sTen tests, they say children that may have a learning disability may be exempted. If there is an exemption, that gets the highest weighting in the current model. What are the witnesses' thoughts regarding the exemptions and people who are around one or two?

My final question relates to the definition. We use the term "complex needs" so frequently in many arenas. You hear it sometimes in the medical arena, in healthcare and we hear it in an education setting as well. I do not know if there is one set definition. I would love to know. We are dealing with learning difficulties, learning challenges and learning disabilities mixed with physical disabilities mixed with, perhaps, anxiety for young children. All of this impacts their ability to have an enjoyable, wonderful, joyful learning experience in our schools, which we want all our children to have. In my area, Roscommon-Galway, in Ballinasloe, there is St. Theresa's Special School, so we are very fortunate. There are additional classrooms which we were able to provide, thank God, but we are also looking at additional classrooms, particularly for post-primary, secondary level. In our town, there is a girls' school, where I went to school, Ardscoil Mhuire, and Garbally College, which are amalgamating. The Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, visited that area. The challenge is that they need more special needs classes. Although I know we are specifically dealing with mainstream, would the witnesses mind if I posed those questions? Perhaps starting with Mr. Harris or whoever would like to respond from each of the groups.