Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Even in Dublin, not all schools are oversubscribed.

Senator James Reilly raised a number of issues, including an acute problem in Swords. I will ask officials to examine the data for Swords where there are 13 schools. According to the data, while some schools in the area are oversubscribed, based on population figures, it should be possible to cater for an intake in the 13 schools operating in the town. This view is disputed, however, as there are some schools with waiting lists. I am checking this, but the Department's data suggest the area has a sufficient number of school places.

Senator Colette Kelleher raised the important issue of autism. The Department wants to push the establishment of autism units and has increased the number of such units from 500 to 1,000 or by 100% in the past five years. Given the rapid expansion in the number of autism units, it is clear that there has not been significant resistance to them. We must ensure schools have the capability, resources and capacity to develop autism units. By and large, it is schools which are approaching the Department seeking to build autism units. It is not the case that they have been unwilling to take on this responsibility. I am open to discussing whether the compulsion model is the best one.