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

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I will engage with the Minister on the issue. It relates to post-primary placements. About 287 additional special classes with 1,700 new places for the 2022-23 school year have already been approved and provided. There is, however, an issue with second level placements, as I discussed with Deputies yesterday. There is in place legislation by which the Minister can direct post-primary schools to develop post-primary autistic units. There is an obligation on all secondary schools to make that provision. This has happened in primary education since the late 1990s, when we brought in measures providing for automatic entitlements for children with special needs, including autism. It seems to me that at second level that progress has been much slower. I will engage with the education and training board, ETB, and others to see if we can get that provision expanded.

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