Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I agree with every word of that response but the key part that we need to drill into is the part that says where it is assessed that it is not possible or suitable for a child to be educated in such a unit and that they have a greater or different need. Generally, that relates to special schools. There is concern among those involved in special schools and in units that there is resistance to the opening of additional special schools. My experience from a number of areas, but I speak particularly of my own constituency in Cork, is that there is a need for probably at least two additional special schools in Cork city and perhaps another in the county. People involved in existing special schools have waiting lists of five years. Naturally, that has a knock-on effect. If a child who needs a place in a special school, which would be the optimum place for them, cannot obtain that place, and they are in a unit, then that place in a unit is potentially denied to a student who does not have any special educational placement. Will the Minister of State confirm that there is a need to build additional special schools?

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