Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for that comprehensive response. Will the Department specifically contact Belmayne Educate Together National School and St. Francis of Assisi Primary School to ask school authorities about their position on this matter and what they would like the Department to do in respect of their schools? There is a particular local demand in the three estates I mentioned.

I will also ask about the role of Tusla's education support service in securing school places for children under six years of age, with particular reference to the educational welfare service, EWS, and its educational welfare officers. Local educational welfare officers have told parents they have no role to play in respect of children under six years of age, yet in reply to a parliamentary question I submitted to the Minister earlier this month, she stated "the EWS provides guidance and advice to parents of children aged under 6 and over 16 with regard to applications for school places". This needs to be clarified. The EWS could do much more to help parents find school places for their children.

This brings me to the position of parents of children with special educational needs in this school planning area. They face even greater difficulties. The special educational needs organisers attached to the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, could do a lot more to assist parents find suitable school places. In this context, will the Minister clarify if section 67 of the school admissions Act has been commenced? This would allow the NCSE to designate a suitable school placement for a young person with special educational needs where local attempts to resolve matters have not been successful. The parents I have spoken to believe this section has not been commenced as yet. I would welcome clarification on this issue as well.

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