Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)

I thank the Minister of State for engaging with all of us in Tipperary. I thank him also for meeting a parent recently, Tina Barrett. Her son recently got a place in St. Michael's and I thank the Minister of State for his involvement there, albeit in Tipperary town. There are two excellent special schools in Tipperary, Scoil Aonghusa and Scoil Chormaic, but they are at capacity. They had to turn away 17 children. There is a real problem in providing sufficient numbers of second level classes. It is really a failing on the part of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCSE. I know the Minister of State knows this, although I also know he is committed to this. We really need a new special school in south Tipperary and west Waterford. We have the two excellent schools in Cashel. The Minister of State visited one of them recently and I appreciate that. I could not say enough about the boards of management of those schools, the volunteers and the parents here today and the fight they have to have for their children.

We need some place in Clonmel. Ferryhouse is a wonderful institution, and is no longer being used for what it was. It is just east of Clonmel, between it and Carrick-on-Suir. It would make for a wonderful location. I ask the Department to examine its potential as a new special school, which would cater for people from west Waterford and south Tipperary, because people should not have to travel long distances. It takes them away from their hinterlands and their siblings in school. I appeal to the Minister of State - I do not have much time and I do not want to take time from my colleagues - to continue with his good work. I thank him again for his engagement.

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