Jim Daly (Cork South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The State, the Government and the Department take this issue very seriously. I also understand the issue well in light of my background as a former school principal and as a parent. I understand the importance of this issue and the anguish that can be caused. As a practising politician, I understand the stress that parents trying to access places for their children can experience.

Specifically in the context of County Wexford, the NCSE has informed me that three places are available for early intervention in Wexford town, nine places for ASD primary school classes, four in north Wexford, four in south Wexford and one in Bunclody. There are also four places in ASD post-primary special classes, with two in north Wexford and two in Bunclody. There are seven places for those with emotional and behavioural difficulties etc. If Deputy Browne would like to make the information to which he refers available to me or to pass it to the office of the Minister for Education and Skills, we will pass it on to the NCSE.

In the wider context of the Government's point of view, since 2011, the amount of money we have spent on special needs education - an area I have a particular interest in and knowledge of - has risen from €1.2 billion to more than €1.9 billion. That is an increase of more than 50%. When I entered the Dáil in 2011, the number of special education classes stood at approximately 500. There are more than 1,600 classes today. The number of these classes has therefore trebled. The Government, the Department and the State are taking this matter seriously. If individual situations need to be brought to the attention of the NCSE, then we are more than happy to facilitate the transfer the information for the Deputy.

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