Ryan O'Meara (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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Our guests are very welcome. I thank them very much for attending, particularly for what is a very detailed opening statement. There was such an incredible amount of information in it and it set out the issues so clearly that I am left wondering what questions need to be asked. The concerns have already been raised with me and I have been in contact with the relevant Ministers about the written submissions already sent. This conversation has arisen a few times already at meetings of this committee. Ms O'Neill mentioned the example of the CBS primary school in Nenagh. The concept of robbing Peter to pay Paul, which Mr. Browne referred to, is a matter I am genuinely worried about.

There is great pressure in this country to find or create spaces for children with complex needs. A great deal of work is being done. Thankfully, we are going to see a lot of classes opening in September. A huge amount remains to be done, however. My worry is that one set of children who are disadvantaged in education and who are struggling will get something that others might then lose out on.

In view of the part of the country I represent, I am very familiar with Mr. Browne's school in Limerick because the children of local families have attended it and local people have taught there, are teaching there or were on placement there. There is probably a lack of understanding generally around this issue. We get it, as do the witnesses who work in the area. The families of students attending the schools also get it, but I do not know if other people know what these schools do. The witnesses have explained the broad scope of the work they do. I am concerned about those children who are on their last chance when it comes to education. The witnesses are holding onto these children and finding a way to keep them in school every day in order to give them a chance and keep them away from antisocial behaviour. That was outlined earlier. These children cannot be allowed to lose out just because there is so much pressure on us to facilitate complex needs. I refer in particular to the MGLD class in Nenagh CBS, which has highlighted the issue relating to children with Down's syndrome who often do not have an autism diagnosis but who have a special needs diagnosis, an MGLD diagnosis, and how hard it is for those children to get places because of the lack of autism diagnoses. Mr. Browne's school is highlighting the work done there, while also taking in children with autism diagnoses. What he said about a child in the school, Aoife, sums up exactly what we need to be concerned about.

There must be a meeting between the officials, the Minister and the representatives of these schools to ensure that there is full understanding of what is involved. Ministers have repeatedly told us that the purpose of the first circular is to start the conversation, but the Department also needs to hear about what is happening in this instance. We must feed it up the line and try to get a meeting for the school principals with the relevant individuals and the Minister, if possible.