Micheál Carrigy (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)

I wish to raise the issue of the upcoming DEIS plus programme that has been announced. I am fearful that it will just be for the major cities. I want to highlight a number of schools, particularly those in Longford town. I ask that schools in towns like Longford, where there are many issues on the ground, are prioritised for the DEIS programme, particularly the national schools of St. Joseph's, St. Michael's and St. Emer's.

Another issue I have raised previously is the lack of special school places. We have several families who have been on a waiting list for nearly 12 months due to the lack of places in the special school within Longford town, which covers not just the town, but the whole county and the counties surrounding it. I ask that we prioritise special school places being made available immediately for those families who do not have them and but badly need them.

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