Mr. John Kearney:

From the NCSE and the Department perspective, we were looking at a variety of options and trying to narrow the bridge in terms of the supports that are needed. I have gone out there and I know the SENOs and the staff have spoken to and listened to the parents. We were looking at a number of avenues in trying to bridge that gap and ensure as many students as possible were offered special class placements come September. That looked at a number of measures. We invoked section 37A, which was an operational process that would eventually lead to schools being compelled to provide placements. We also worked in close collaboration with two education and training boards - the City of Dublin ETB, and the Dublin and Dún Laoghaire ETB. Very much embedded within that was an integration model, particularly from having listened to parents who had experienced extreme frustration when it came to their children and the supports that were required for them. We were looking at that as a transition pathway to ultimate integration into special classes, whether they in primary or post-primary schools, within the city of Dublin.

Senator Flynn's points about integration are very well made. Our vision within the NCSE is that of an inclusive education where all students are completely cherished, respected and admired within their whole school community setting. Ultimately, we are working towards where each and every child can attend, as close as possible, the school that is nearest to him or her.

On the AsIAm survey, it mentions 267 students awaiting a placement. That does not quite tally with our figures for what is required. Notwithstanding that, we have interrogated the survey and know there is more work to be done in enabling students to travel closer to their local school in their local community, and that is the determinant of appropriateness. We are doing this in stages. Our first stage is to deliver those special class placements. The next is to get them closer to the individual parent's household.