Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

In this place, we understand one needs good governance, schemes and structures but, as the parents have said, there used to be therapists. Until 2019, there were therapists in the school. What they also said, as did the staff and the children, is that they were given a commitment and told to go away and find the therapists. How do we find a way forward in relation to this? How do we make good the commitment that was made? I accept it was made in good faith, things happened, etc. Nonetheless, a commitment was made. We need to make good on that.

Clearly, there is no principled objection to using private capacity. Is the Minister of State saying that if the school is in the pilot, it can use private capacity? That being the case, will the school be in a position to get therapists as soon as it is included in the pilot, and will the Minister of State be able to provide funding to it?

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