Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)

There are good working relationships 99% of the time between schools and the NCSE when it comes to opening ASD classes. The same can be said for this specific school in Athlone, which already has an ASD class in its Gaelscoil. However, the Minister of State is familiar with the 2022 document entitled "Autism Good Practice Guidance for Schools", which clearly states that autistic students who attend Irish-medium schools should be taught through Irish, as this is the language in their school environment. I also have a copy of correspondence that clearly outlines that the NCSE strongly indicated to this school that its ASD class should be run through English. That is not acceptable. This is a Gaelscoil; all classes are taught through Irish. The NCSE has no right or authority to call into question the ethos of any school. I would put this in the same category as anybody walking into a school operating through another religion or a non-denominational school and asking it to change its ethos. It is simply not on.

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