Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)

As I said earlier, I would like to see a situation where children with special needs would have a second year. When the scheme was introduced originally, it began in January and those children who attended from January to June were then allowed to take a second year. There has been some misunderstanding but there was never actually a second year available, although clearly it would be of great benefit to many children if it were available. I said earlier that it is primarily a financial consideration at this stage. It would be about 10% of the cohort and would cost some €15 million plus administrative costs,.which is a considerable financial outlay. It would be extremely beneficial but I have no plans to do so at present. As a vision for the early school years, I would like to see it in place.

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