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

I thank the Minister of State for taking this Topical Issue. I know this is an issue she has worked on in recent years. I know it is something she wants to bring to a resolution. I also acknowledge that without her intervention, I do not think we would even have the pilot scheme that is in place. That needs to be put on the record.

As outlined by Deputy Barry, St. Killian's is a very progressive school. It has more than 100 children with a huge, complex range of needs and there is a diverse range of needs in the school.

It was obviously anticipated at the outset that St. Killian's would be in the pilot scheme project. That, obviously, has not transpired and there is inevitable disappointment there.

It is my understanding that the second tranche of schools - I believe there are ten - is due to be announced by the end of October. What I am asking is that the Minister of State, Mr. Bernard Gloster and Mr. Bernard O'Regan consider bringing forward that deadline of the end of October by a number of weeks to give those parents, these children and the school management the reassurance that they will have a chance of being in that intake. As the Minister of State will be aware, and as Deputy Barry outlined, St. Killian's has a shovel-ready proposal. It could go in the morning if it was included in the subsequent scheme and I would urge the Minister of State to consider bringing that deadline forward.

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