Mark Wall (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. I appreciate that reply. The most important thing we can take from it is that we will have a special school in south Kildare in September. That is the message that needs to go out to the many families who ring me and all public representatives in south Kildare because, as I said in my introduction, when you hear the stories you realise the stress on families. The message is that we will have a school. I have mentioned that there is a location in Monasterevin, County Kildare. There are also locations in Athy, Newbridge and elsewhere that I am sure can accommodate the needs of a special school. What we want is to ensure the school is ready in September because, at this stage, a growing number of parents cannot find a place for their loved one in September. Maybe the Minister of State will relay to the Minister and Minister of State in the Department of Education that we need to ensure the school is up and running in September. I would appreciate it if he also relayed to them my comment on SENOs, which he acknowledged, to the effect that we should work with SENOs and parents to take from the parents the stress of ringing all the schools, preparing all the birth certificates, etc. I thank the Minister of State for his reply. We look forward to the official opening of the school in September.