Aisling Dempsey (Meath West, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister and her officials for being here. The first thing I would like to raise concerns the special classes. I acknowledge the work the Minister and the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan, have done in this area. I believe it is most important to have special classes in primary schools. I know there has been a focus on this aspect this year and there is also a commitment to focusing much more on it in post-primary schools. I think, though, that having special classes at primary school level is most important. We all understand how important early intervention is. It allows us to future proof and future plan in our post-primary schools. I am concerned by the number of parents who have contacted me to say their local primary school in Meath West does not have a special class. I wish to ask the Minister about this matter. Are a large number of primary schools in this situation nationwide, generally, and then specifically in Meath West? What is being done to address this situation?

Also on the topic of special classes, I know of a secondary school in Athboy that fought tooth and nail to get an additional class for next year, which would have allowed pupils travelling from Oldcastle to go to school in Athboy. Instead, they have been placed in a school in the Minister's own constituency of Meath East, as opposed to Nobber in Meath West. While those parents and I, as their representative, are very grateful they have a place, the right school place is very important and it being local. I just wish to pose that question to the Minister first.