Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)

The Deputy took what I said as bad news. I think I gave constructive news, if she heard what I said, which is that there are 300 new special school places, which it is acknowledged are needed for those who need them, and that the Department and the NCSE in particular have proceeded to decide where they are going. I have no doubt the Department will listen to what the Deputy said in the Dáil tonight. It will look at this, as I am sure the Deputy will understand, taking a holistic and analytical approach to see where places are needed. That is going to happen.

I am glad that under the previous Government we restarted the reopening of special schools. That continues apace. We know the demand that is there at the moment. The NCSE will look at where those schools should be located. I have no doubt it will look at areas where there are no special schools if existing schools in the region cannot accommodate.

To be clear, the Department and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that sufficient special education placements are available for children with special educational needs. They will continue to review and monitor the situation in County Dublin, which includes Dublin 1, and nationwide as to where new special schools are required.

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