Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I am not sure the Minister replied to the question I asked. I acknowledge that there has been a significant increase in the number of ASD special classes since 2011 but the ratio of primary to secondary has remained fairly constant. We know that when children transfer from primary to secondary school it can be quite a traumatic time as it is a difficult transition for many students to make. In the case of students on the autism spectrum, it is all the harder for them, and if students are moving from a special class in primary school to a mainstream class in secondary school it is hugely challenging. They are moving from a situation where there is a 6:1 ratio at primary level to perhaps 20:1 or greater than that at secondary level. There is a real mismatch between primary and secondary and for that reason will the Minister insist on the provision of additional classes at secondary level so that students can make that transition?

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