Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy noted, the draft proposal is an option, not a decision. That is what the Minister of State emphasised to me today. This is very much at an early stage and subject to further engagement. I am glad that some engagement has already happened, with strong views being expressed at the meeting and in public statements. Clearly, further significant work is required to progress this matter.

The key goal is for the constitutional right to education for children with special educational needs to be fulfilled. That must be our guiding objective in all of this, alongside our international obligations under the various UN charters, as the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, has reminded me. She is committed to that. A school is not just somewhere to go, but a constitutional right and an international obligation of the State. The Government takes that seriously, as does the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan. We will see where this goes. Serious concerns have been expressed, so I want to be clear that no decision has been made.

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