Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In the past couple of years, as all Deputies in this House will acknowledge, there has been an enormous increase in the provision for children with special educational needs. We have more special needs assistants now than there are gardaí. There has been a considerable increase in the number in recent years. New ASD units have been established throughout the country. There are more special classes now than ever before. No other Government has ever done this. It is part of our commitment to making sure that children with special needs get the educational opportunities they deserve and which they were not given by others in the past.

The need for a special school in west Dublin is acknowledged. I am engaging with the National Council for Special Education and the special education needs officer on that issue.

See this speech in context