Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)

I did meet with the group in March of this year in relation to its proposals. In the first instance, as regards all schools that are putting on or getting extensions at the moment, one of the main criteria we are looking at is their provision for special education and whether there is an increase in that regard.

That is a given and a must within every school, whether a primary or post-primary school right now, right across the country. Both the Department and the NCSE are clear on that, and I am clear on it as well. We need to increase the capacity. We have challenges in relation to post-primary education as well because primary education, by and large, has been very good but primary students will go on to be post-primary students. Bridging the Gap in Youghal provided a very serious and coherent proposal to us. This year, we have opened five extra special schools across the country over the last number of months. They opened on 1 September and others are opening in the next week or so. After 1 October, when we will understand the need that is within the entire country, we will be making decisions on where the next number of special schools will be opened.

I take the Deputy's point very seriously with regard to travelling to St. John's, to Carrigtwohill, and to both cities, Cork and Waterford. If we are to have a sustainable special education system into the future, we have to make sure we are reducing travel because that is going to continue to be a current expenditure on the State. We are very mindful of that, and of making sure we reduce that when making decisions on it. There is no point in me giving the Deputy cast-iron guarantees. I understand and I met with the group. I understand the questions it has. We will be engaging with the group and we will be looking at the area but we have to understand the need as well, and we will be trying to meet that need across the country. I think we have opened 16 special schools over the last number of years, and this year it looks like we will be opening five or six. We will be going to-----