Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the much-needed additional investment in special education and the establishment of more special classes for children with additional needs, as well as the commitment of the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan, and the Minister, Deputy McEntee, to this very important area of education.

I previously raised with the Taoiseach the inequity existing in the disadvantages suffered by smaller schools due to their difficulty in reaching the required enrolment threshold for special classes. This inequity also impacts severely on schools under the patronage of smaller churches because, by and large, they have small enrolments. In far too many instances, children have to travel too far to access a special class. Existing enrolment thresholds need to be amended now, particularly for the next school year, to address the very legitimate interests and aspirations of our smaller rural schools and schools under the patronage of Protestant churches.

Children should be facilitated with appropriate school placements as local to their homes as possible, with realistic criteria, and siblings should be in the same school if at all possible while at the same time providing proper supports for these children. I spoke to the Taoiseach earlier about one particular school in County Cavan that I have concerns about. His assistance in addressing these issues will be much appreciated.

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