Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Can I just say at the first meeting of the Joint Committee on Autism that I welcome its establishment and look forward to working constructively with all my colleagues here to see positive change for people with autism?

I particularly welcome the three representatives from the NCSE here this morning. I have met them all previously: Ms McGrath, Ms Prendeville, and particularly the CEO, Mr. Kearney. Mr. Kearney and I worked together a long time ago. We know each other going back to when we held different roles in life and neither of us dreamed that we would meet here.

The first question I have to ask is a fairly obvious one. Much of the talk in the past few weeks has been about the lack of school places coming this September for children with additional needs, in particular children with autism.

I wonder what kind of data the NCSE holds on exactly what school places are needed. Does it have a mapping system to identify where school places are needed, particularly as pupils go from primary to secondary school? Many people do not understand why if a child is already in a special class, an autism class or a special school, it is not recognised that the child may need the same service at second level but it is not provided. There is a major deficit in particular areas in the country, including Dublin, Cork and other areas.

What kind of data does the NCSE possess and how far in advance does it plan? How far in advance would it advise of the Minister of exactly what is needed? It was mentioned that there are 106 children without school places for September and it is now almost too late to be dealing with such matters. It is almost a rush job when the process should be planned perhaps two years in advance. What sort of data and planning go into ensuring children have places because this comes up every year at this time?