Michael Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)

It is very important to be fair to the NCSE, the Department and ourselves. A deadline of February was put in place. Parents needed to make contact by that deadline. We worked to those figures. A number of children have come forward post the February deadline in recent weeks. We are actively engaging with those families and with schools in their communities to ensure children are accommodated in appropriate places. A decision was made a number of months ago and the Minister, Deputy McEntee, and I, having engaged with the Department and the NCSE, have moved the deadline for families, guardians and schools to make contact with the NCSE to identify children who will need special classes back to 1 October for next year. That will give us a better sense of the challenges that will be faced in the next school year. It is important that we have this information earlier so that we can make sure we have places available. We will be giving certainty to families prior to Christmas this year. We intend to make sure we get at this earlier.

See this speech in context