Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Site visits will be arranged if necessary to ascertain any potential for extensions with three other special schools. It is always the aim of the Department and the NCSE to accommodate every child who has special needs. As I have said consistently this morning, I am determined to eradicate this lack of provision. I do not want it to be the case in the future that there is a perennial issue of an absence of places for children with special needs. It is simply not good enough and it should not happen. We have sufficient funding. It is about planning ahead and I intend to bring targeted action in that respect. For those children with special needs who do not get a place at any stage, the 20-hours home grant tuition scheme is available. That is not ideal, however, and it is only an interim measure until a place is found for all children.

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