Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for the thorough reply. I ask her and the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, to collaborate with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman, to determine where there is a clear need for a joint approach. When there is early diagnosis and early intervention, children are not getting the supports they need to allow them to enter mainstream education in the best possible way. That is why we need to see support for Montessori workers in the early childhood sector. Equally, we need to see early childhood services, Montessori schools and crèches provided with the opportunities to expand and have the appropriate spaces. I am aware that much of this does not fall directly under the Minister's purview but it will feed straight into the national school system at a very early stage. If we can have the supports provided to the children and, equally, their families at the earliest point, it will allow for a far better educational process for all the children involved.

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