Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the presence of Deputy Aindrias Moynihan to my left. He has worked on this issue for a number of years. The Minister of State's response is no different from the previous response that was given on 9 April in respect of this school. Traditionally in Ballincollig, ASD classes have been outsourced to villages, such as Ovens, Berrings, Farran and other surrounding rural county towns. I have spoken in the past about Ballincollig in particular and referenced the deficit in special needs classes in the area to serve the population of the town and the greater region, which amounts to approximately 20,000 people.

Many people here are slow to acknowledge the fact there has been a considerable increase in the number of special needs assistants, special education teachers and ASD classes in general. I would like to put that on the record. At the same time, however, this project is a matter of urgency. The technical team to which the Minister of State referred in her response met the principal on site in 2021 and, three years on, we are no further in progressing that project.

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