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

It just does not add up. On the one hand the Minister is saying there is sufficient provision but on the other hand he is saying there will be an 18% increase next year. Either there is sufficient provision or there is not. It is quite clear that there is not at the moment. While SENOs make recommendations, unfortunately, second level schools are not required to open ASD special classes. It is a voluntary arrangement. The Minister must tackle that problem because, for example, in Cork in the past two years every single secondary school was asked if it would consider opening an ASD special class and all bar one refused to do that. There a need to have some kind of system in place that requires second level schools to open special classes. It cannot be left as a voluntary arrangement because it is clear that students are then left with a situation where the provision is not adequate. Will the Minister consider taking a new approach to the issue?

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