Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

There is a protest at the Department of Education scheduled for tomorrow. It is a 24-hour sleep-out by parents who are demanding appropriate places for their children. They should not have to do that. It is disgraceful and shameful that they have to. I send them solidarity and tell them that I will certainly do everything I can to keep this on the agenda and to push for an appropriate place for every child. That includes a place for this September. The question is then on appropriate places. There are not 126 but 177 children who are on home tuition because they are waiting on a special education placement. I asked whether emergency measures will be needed to deliver this capacity in the timely manner the Minister of State has talked about. For example, will the school buildings be in place? What measures are going to be taken to ensure they are?

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