Mr. John Kearney:

I thank the Deputy for those wide-ranging questions. I will cover some of them while my colleague will cover the queries about what happens when a child reaches 18 and transport. Each school is responsible for its own admissions policy. By and large, it is the school that is enrols students in individual special class enrolment, which is part of the overall enrolment criteria for individual schools.

The Deputy mentioned mild general learning disabilities. I assume she is referring to the new circular pertaining to special schools. I can clarify that there will be no significant change for this year and the coming year. There are ongoing discussions on this because I have no doubt that the committee is aware of the significant distances young students with additional needs are travelling. It is all with a view to ensuring that those distances are tighter and young students can attend special schools in their local communities. There are 30 schools of that designation in the country roughly half of which have broadened their enrolment criteria.

That is done in a process of consultation and engagement. That is what has been envisaged within the provisions of the circular in terms of progressing.