Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies. I agree wholeheartedly with what the Deputies have said. I fully understand the challenges that are being faced in Waterford and across the country in relation to school places. It is an issue that behoves all of us. In my role and the responsibility that I have, I intend to use everything at my disposal to ensure places are made available. I know and I understand fully, as a public representative and indeed with the lived experience, the challenges that are being faced across the country, and particularly the challenges the Deputies have raised in Waterford. In one of the remarks I made in my contributions, I said that we are waiting and that the Department and the NCSE are working. I am assured that the NCSE is hoping to be able to confirm additional special classes in the area in the coming weeks. I will work as hard as I can with the resources that are available through the NCSE and through the Department. We will try together. This is an issue that concerns all public representatives. We have met parents and we know the challenges that are being faced, with many cases of complex needs. We will, however, work as hard as we can to try to find solutions for the parents of children in Waterford and throughout the country.

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