Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I spoke to Taoiseach recently about autism units in Louth and Dundalk, and the fact there are 18 secondary schools in Louth and only half of them provide units. We could decide to hammer the schools but when we speak to schools such as the Marist, it will speak about going over and back with the NCSE and the Department and say that it has been far from perfect. With regard to primary schools, I have told the Taoiseach about Sheelagh National School which wanted to speak to somebody in the building unit in the Department so the agreed units could be built and put in place. I have also spoken previously about De La Salle College and other schools and the need for the work to happen. This is all absolutely necessary. My Education (Amendment) Bill would allow for parents of kids with disabilities to apply two years early. We need to look at this type of solution. In the schools it is about the school inclusion model so we get the best bang for our buck with regard to occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, physiotherapists and others, not just in special schools but also in regular schools with a shared service. This is what needs to happen.

I will take 20 seconds on an issue regarding a paramedic in Dundalk. I have not found any other method to deal with it. This is someone in the defence forces who was trained by the National Ambulance Service. Sonya Larrigan has retired from the Defence Forces and has gone into the National Ambulance Service but it is not accepting her credentials for increments.

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