Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I support the ongoing training that will be provided to teachers to deliver appropriate education and supports to autistic children entering their schools or classes. As the Minister of State knows, a proportion of our autistic children attend DEIS schools and they need these supports. Yesterday a lot of schools in Carlow got letters back from the Department to say they were not being changed from a DEIS band 2 to a DEIS band 1, and yet there are schools right beside them that have DEIS band 1 status that have the same families attending them. It is unacceptable that we are looking at schools that have put in an appeal that will not get the DEIS band 1 status. This is unfair for everyone involved.

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