Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

It is a bit unfortunate the way the meeting has happened. I know it cannot be helped but people are watching this. There are parents who have an interest. It is unfortunate for the staff as well.

It is the last week of school. How many children do not have school places? This question was asked of the Minister for education by another Deputy last week. She did not give an answer. This is something I would have expected the Minister of State to come with today. There have been weeks of notice of this meeting. The Minister of State was inevitably going to be asked this. The Minister said 3,275 children had applied to the NCSE. She intimated that 92% had school places - or, in the new phrase the Ministers are using, "a pathway". I do not know what that actually means. That implies roughly 250 children do not have a school place for September. Can the Minister of State provide the breakdown for special schools, primary schools and secondary schools nationally? Does he have that information today?