Pauline O'Reilly (Green Party)
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I welcome the Minister and Minister of State and thank them for attending. I welcome that there will shortly be an announcement on DEIS band 1 junior and vertical schools. The senior level was taken into account and saw a reduction, as the Minister outlined. It is important to mention that, given that many members have missed that information in some of their comments at this meeting. I look forward to the announcement and I hope to see a reduction in class sizes.

Last week, I raised a matter in respect of which I was not sure what was happening. We know from the calculated grades that the results gap between DEIS non-DEIS schools reduced. Will the Minister outline what steps are being taken to ensure that we do not lose that reduction in future leaving certificates?

I have received many emails outlining concerns about a smaller number of ASD classes at second level compared with primary level. Will the Minister of State comment on this matter? Will there be a move to increase numbers?

Was the issue of extended breaks raised by Deputy Ó Ríordáin? I apologise - everyone is forgetting his name.