John Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for his reply, a copy of which I have read very carefully. There is slightly contradictory information in it. One additional primary school place in Waterford has been sanctioned. I understand it is in St. Stephen's De La Salle in Waterford city. The reply later references that four primary school ASD classes will be available for September 2023 but only two are in place already. I take it from this that there is confirmation in the reply that an additional two classes will be provided in the Tramore area. This is new information but the next question that will rightly be asked by parents is where are the classes and in which schools will they be. I note in the reply there has not been an application from those schools. I accept that the NCSE constantly engages with schools. As I said in my opening remarks, every primary and second-level school should have at least one ASD class attached to it. This is the only way we will address educational needs.