Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I raise the issue of provision for students with autism spectrum disorder, ASD. I will talk specifically about north County Louth. I have received correspondence from the relevant special educational needs organiser, SENO. I will not name every school in north County Louth but I will name a couple of them. Coláiste Chú Chulainn has two ASD classes. St. Vincent's Secondary School has one ASD class. Sanction has been granted to that school for an additional three classes and that expansion is due to happen before September 2024. An extension to Bush Post Primary School is under construction and will house an ASD classroom. The projected completion date for that project is September 2024. I could also talk about De La Salle College, St. Louis Secondary School, Coláiste Rís, the Marist school and Ó Fiaich Institute of Further Education. There have obviously been conversations involving the SENO and the Department about delivery. There are many projections for 2024. A significant amount of work must be done in respect of planning. There will even be difficulties in respect of the Marist school because it is a public private partnership build. We must ensure there is a full Government response to allow for delivery.

There are issues in respect of ASD services within the HSE and the education sector. We must ensure we can deliver for those parents in Dundalk and throughout County Louth who are pulling their hair out because they are not sure where their kids are going to be able to go to school.

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