Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I take the point that the Deputy has made. Legislation was passed in the Oireachtas some time ago, by a previous Dáil, stating that the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, can recommend that the Minister mandatorily instruct a school to have an ASD class. That should be more streamlined and simplified. The Minister should not have to tell a school that it needs to have an ASD class.

Every school should take all children irrespective of need. In my view, particularly in the mainstream setting, children with special and additional needs should be looked after and catered for. I will engage with the Minister for Education on that matter.

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