Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I apologise for being late to the debate.

As Chair of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Autism, and as a parent, I hope that we never have to invoke section 37A. We should not have to. This country should have an inclusive educational system and we should not need to introduce legislation to ensure that a child is educated in his or her local community with his or her siblings. Unfortunately, that has had to be done in recent months, particularly in Dublin. It is well documented in the media that nearly 100 families do not know where their children, who have needs, will go to school next September. This is 2022 and we are a First World country, so that is unacceptable. We should not need to be here introducing this legislation.

Due to our debate, and given that the issue has been highlighted in the media, I would like to believe that we will never have to invoke this legislation. Where there is a capacity issue in a primary or post-primary school of any denomination in Ireland, the school will immediately make capacity available once consulted by the NCSE or the Department and resources will be put in place by the Department, which it and the Minister of State have committed to doing.

From today, I would like us to never have to invoke this legislation. We should not have to. No primary or port-primary school should do anything to inhibit a child in getting an education in his or her local community. That would be unacceptable in this day and age.