Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I want to be 100% clear. We are completely dedicated to ensuring that all children with additional needs will have the places that best meet their needs. It is my absolute vision that we will have a scenario in which children with additional needs can attend their nearest school. That is the objective. It is why 3,000 additional special educational classes are in place. As I have said previously, two thirds of them have been delivered by this Government. We will get to a point where a student attends their nearest school.

Part of my vision, and I am very clear about this, is that we will have a scenario whereby we will have a school campus with a mainstream school adjacent to a special school so there will be an opportunity to move over and back between the two. We are putting an enormous amount of effort and emphasis into ensuring we have appropriate provision. We provided 400 additional special classes in 2022-23. We will do likewise this year and the following year to ensure we will meet the needs of all of those who require either a special class or a place in a special school.

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