Ms Martina Mannion:

The Department is supporting the special classes primarily in the free-scheme schools. The Department recognises that there may be need, particularly, for example, at the recognised schools at post-primary level in areas where there are not as many free-scheme schools, for special education provision within those areas. That happens only where we are not able to provide the sufficient capacity within the free-scheme situation. As it stands, we are working to ensure we have sufficient capacity. Not all of our schools have special classes either at primary or post-primary, so that is where our target has to be, and that is where we are working to for the moment.