Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies for raising these various matters. Deputy Ó Murchú mentioned the issue of ASD classes in County Louth. I agree we have a need for more investment across the country to allow space for more ASD classes come September, when they are particularly going to be needed. They are needed now but they will be needed even more come September. That will require additional capital investment. The Minister, Deputy Foley, and the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, are engaging with the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, on precisely that issue at the moment. In fairness to the Department of Education, once it gets capital funding, it tends to be able to spend it. That is not always the case with every Department for various reasons. The Department is engaging on that issue as we speak.

I am not inclined to answer questions about a specific school because I do not necessarily know if what I read in media reports is accurate or reflects the full story. However, I can say that there should be no place for discrimination against LGBT students and staff in any school, full stop, regardless of patronage or whether the school in question charges fees. I will ask the Minister, Deputy Foley, to respond to any questions about a specific school.

I agree with the view that there should be a psychologist in every school, certainly any school of scale. A service should be available to smaller schools. Achieving that, of course, is a different matter. There are skills shortages across the board in Ireland and, indeed, there are similar shortages across the rest of the world. There are only so many psychologists to go around. We must consider-----

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