Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)

Okay, so we will still not be told that information. We are dealing with parents who do not have school places. I absolutely appreciate the pressure that the NCSE is under. I often feel that it is easy for Government TDs to focus on the witnesses rather than on their own Ministers, but at the same time, we should be privy to this information.

The primary school principals were in and made the point in their statement that schools are often pressured to open additional special education classes when other schools in the catchment have none. Why is that happening? Why have some schools been allowed not to provide any special education? Can the witnesses clarify the breakdown of religious patronage schools that do not provide special education, Educate Together and ETBs? Is there a difference? I have one other question after this.