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

I thank the Deputy for the supplementary questions. I met a number of parents and have met with them over many years in respect of special educational needs. I know the stress they are under. I cannot overstate how hard the Minister, Deputy McEntee, and I have worked over recent weeks to ensure we would have a place for every child in September. We are working extremely hard with the NCSE and the Department of Education officials to ensure all of the 400 special classes are opened by September. We are a number of months ahead of where we were this time last year because of the work that has been put in. I believe the NCSE has created sufficient capacity for children who need special classes in September. It is important we take note that the deadline was 1 February this year and our intention is to have that deadline earlier in the school cycle so there would be certainty for families earlier in the school year.

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