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

There has been a very significant expansion of special needs education in both the primary and post-primary sector, the budget for which increased by a further 12%. Approximately €2.6 billion is now spent on special education. We have established additional posts including posts for new special needs assistants and teachers. Approximately 392 new special classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE for the 2022-23 period. Those are the figures. I will seek clarity on the issue the Deputy raised with regard to the NCSE and I will talk to the Minister about it. Everything is designed to get people in situas quickly as possible. We do not want children without school places and we want children to have access to services as quickly as possible. I can only surmise that the NCSE is asking whether we can get children into special classes and special units to get services provided but I will seek clarity in that regard.

In terms of the Milne twins-----

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