James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her reply and for those figures. I acknowledge her and the Government's commitment to this area. I worry about the figures, however. The Minister mentioned in her reply the special classes that are already in existence, namely, Clane, Enfield, Leixlip, Maynooth, Naas, Prosperous and Sallins. Certainly, Clane, Naas, Prosperous and Sallins are areas that have been brought to my attention as being insufficient. They may be there, but they are not there in sufficient capacity and accommodation because the parents of children who are being turned away come to my clinics and correspond with me on this.

I welcome the seven new classes. I do not think I am being parochial about this because I have been elected to represent north Kildare, but only one of the seven is going to north Kildare. By the mathematics, at the previous boundary review there were four and four. Therefore, they are of unequal measure in terms of north Kildare and south Kildare. One is getting six and one is getting one. There seems to be an imbalance there. I would, therefore, ask for extra classes.

The Minister of State mentioned that the Department is continuing to monitor and review the need for further special needs classes. I can assist with that. I can provide the information I have been given by parents. I can say today, as I have already said, that Naas, Clane, Sallins and Prosperous, at the very least, need additional spaces for ASD units. The need has been brought to my attention at primary level, but I know from my own experience when I was chair of the board at Naas Community College that additional places are needed at post-primary level as well. I would really stress upon the Department the need to look at that ahead of the next school year. This is not something that can be rolled along with a watching tracker kept on it over the next couple of years. This is an urgent situation where children of six years of age and their parents are looking at this coming September like a clock ticking down and wondering where they are going to go. I am aware of many such cases.

I would really stress upon the Minister of State to bring the message back to the Department to say that while I welcome the progress that has been made, unfortunately, it is not enough. I am dealing with real-life situations whereby children have no place to go this September in north Kildare in many ASD-type situations. I really ask the Department to take on board and engage with me on the issue ahead of this September.

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