Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The ombudsman's office has empowered and is empowering parents and children. It is holding organisations to account. He has said that education is the biggest issue that comes up. How much of a distraction is the annual scramble for school places for children with additional needs when we need to focus on an inclusive education system? Does the ombudsman have any views on planning for school places, particularly in light of the Department's recent statement that it currently works on the basis of 1.5% of the child population having autism but that this is going to move to 5%?