James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

I want to be associated with the earlier comments and congratulate the Minister and the Minister of State on their new posts.

Unfortunately, I echo some more of the earlier comments as well. I am none the wiser after the Minister's answer to the question asked by Deputy Timmins. Is the funding available for the 12 extra schools or has it been agreed? The Minister is new in the job and I do not want to give him a hard time, but I point out that the reality is not as he has outlined. There is a school in Castleknock and I know of another one in Swords where there is a teacher, a classroom and two special needs assistants, who are not particularly well trained in autism, but it is better than nothing. However, they cannot get access to speech and language therapy, a behavioural psychologist or occupational therapy so that they cannot function. That is the reality on the ground. What is the situation vis-À-vis funding for the 12 extra ABA schools? Are they being funded and, in the event, when? When is it hoped the negotiations will conclude because they have been going on for a very long time?

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