Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Although I am drawing attention to one child, it is not just that child. It is not a large number of children but this is the one group of children who should not be home-schooled because the whole issue is the socialisation and engagement with other children of the same age. I have a real fear that will be the solution to this, which may be a solution on paper but it is not the best outcome for the child or children in question. It is very important to understand that this will not just be a small number of children in this year but there will be a need into the future because there is a growing young population. The Minister has only to look at her primary school records to establish the schools that are feeder schools with children on the autistic spectrum to give her the evidence that a facility is needed here.

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