Mr. John Kearney:

I thank Deputy Collins. I will take some of the queries the Deputy has raised, starting with the July provision programme. Our role within the NCSE is to support that programme rather than oversee the administration of it. As I shared with some of the Deputy's committee colleagues earlier, the programme is one we very much endorse. We see the value of it for parents and we see it from our engagement with parents and, especially, the SENOs' engagement with parents. The value and merit of that particular programme is well endorsed. We support every possible way in which we can support that programme, for example with resource materials. The Deputy is seeking the numbers participating in the programme. We can source those figures from the Department and revert to the committee afterwards.

On the requirement for assessment, it is entailed within the individual enrolment policies of schools. An assessment report of less than two years is required with regard to the assessment criteria for the progression of students to post-primary level.

I will recap on the issue of our database. We have a forecasting model that looks ahead for five years. We very much take account on an ongoing basis. It is a five-year forecasting model but it is developing in consultation with the Department from the geographic information system that is provided to us and weekly engagements. The success of it has really been seen with the delivery of so many special class placements this year, notwithstanding the black spots we have alluded to.

There will be other challenges ahead. We have seen extraordinary growth at post-primary level which is beginning to peter out now. This will lead to spare capacity in primary schools. When one considers where the peak is now heading for provision, up to about 2026 the peak will be very strong at post-primary level. Unfortunately, there will be pinch points that we will have to navigate with all partners in delivering the degree and sufficiency of special class placements that are required. I am glad to say, however, that there is a bit of reprieve at primary level making the delivery of special class requirements that little bit easier. Notwithstanding this, there will be fundamental challenges at post-primary level. Obviously, the ongoing challenges will also continue with regard to Dublin. I am very confident that our five-year forecasting model is providing us with the necessary information and data that we will require in scoping out the future need and delivery requirements.