Ms Miriam Kenny:

This is our experience. There are large local schools and some of them have come forward but, unfortunately, others have not. It is not just in our area. There are areas similar to ours where, historically, the feeling is that our children do not attend their local schools because they attend somewhere else. That is the wrong way to say that and I do not mean to endorse it. A lot of the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools, DEIS, schools have come forward, as have many of the Educate Together schools. There is beginning to be change. There are some fantastic parental advocacy groups and that is where the classes are now being opened because we have raised our voices. Why are we not planning for that under the NCSE and whoever else is responsible? I acknowledge the Minister of State has come forward but, at all times, the planning has not been there to say these children need to be in their local schools and their local community.

The benefit to the entire school community is substantial, not least through diversity and inclusion. Having a sensory room, for example, in a school that would not have had it otherwise benefits the entire school. Similarly, the benefits of having people who have experience working with children who are autistic or have additional educational needs - it is not all about autistic children - is profound and has a profound effect on the school. We have talked to principals about how it has changed the dynamic of their schools. We need to stop segregating our children and they need to be included, yet every child needs the support that is correct for him or her because every child is different, and it is important to say that.