Josepha Madigan (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

They are, of course, aware of the numbers. They change on a daily basis, as the Deputy can appreciate. That is why we have all of the forecasting measures, which I outlined to the Deputy. For the sake of the House, we are bringing forward a number of different strategic initiatives. The geographical information system, GIS, through the planning and building unit, is now sharing real-time capacity information with the NCSE. There is updated technical guidance for building reconfiguration. There is future-proofing at post-primary level.

I mentioned that I have written a letter to all post-primary schools in recent weeks stating that we will expect them to open at least four special classes in each post-primary school over the next five years. Not all of them will have to open special classes next September, but they will need to do so in future. There are 1,803 special classes at primary level and 704 at post-primary level. We will need more in the post-primary sector, as the Deputy said, over the next few years.

See this speech in context