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

I understand the legislation to which Deputy Catherine Murphy referred is awaiting Second Stage. For reasons of which the House will be aware, we have only been able to prioritise six items of legislation for this session through to the end of March. The decision in the Department of Health, which I believe was the right one, was to prioritise the legislation on CervicalCheck and establishment of the tribunal to hear cases. That is being given priority in terms of health legislation.

On the issue of a special school in Dublin 15, the National Council for Special Education has examined this and has formed a view that a special school is warranted in the Dublin 15 area. The exact form that should take is still a matter for discussion in terms of whether it should be autism-specific or for all children who have profound special needs and cannot be accommodated in the existing schools.

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