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

I will respond to Deputy Durkan first and then speak to the matter raised by Deputy Collins. As I mentioned in response to a previous question, 742 special classes in post-primary schools were opened this year but there are 1,803 special classes in primary schools, so there is already a gap in that regard. As I outlined, that is why I wrote the letter to all post-primary schools, stating that over the next five years each post-primary school will have to open four special classes. We need to close that gap. I mentioned earlier in response to Deputy Ó Laoghaire the forward planning that we are doing.

As regards the body of work that is being done, I understand some of the points made, for example, on cost. We must move away from people trying to pay privately for the assessments. When we have the classes set up in post-primary schools, we want to make sure that people can go to them and avail of the capacity. The work is at the initial stage. It is part of a wider range of initiatives being taken by the Department and the NCSE on the forward planning of special education. The initial work is on how placements are reviewed on an ongoing basis.

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