Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I do not understand why there would be a blockage in the Department of Education in terms of a temporary building. There have been approximately 1,700 new special classes in mainstream schools in the past four years, so we are consistently expanding at the moment. There are 11 new specialist schools, 7,600 more special education teachers and so on. In the past four years, 4,000 more special needs assistants have been provided. A physical building obviously cannot be put in place in months but if children need accommodation, I will talk to the Minister and the Minister of State with responsibility for special education on this. The NCSE is increasing its staff and so on with a view to making sure we can get places for children for September.

See this speech in context