Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

The Senator’s points are noted. Certainly, the Department is proactive. It is using demographics and CSO data to inform its planning. As I said, the growth we are seeing will peak and taper off, but perhaps not so profoundly in the greater Dublin area and Dublin West.

Regarding the common applications system, especially for special educational needs provision, at primary level in Dublin 15, the Minister of State with responsibility for special education and inclusion, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton, has asked her Department and the National Council for Special Education to establish a new task force to discuss ways to support the forward planning for special education provision in the Dublin 15 area ahead of the next school year, 2025-2026. The new task force is due to have its first meeting next week. Its work will be led by an independent chairperson and the group will include members representing parents and schools. Among the issues this task force will consider will be measures to support a common application process for primary special class enrolments.

The Senator’s lobbying has paid some dividends, so well done in that regard. I accept the point she made that it is critically important we get the balance right to take that stress from parents and families in what is a very challenging time anyway.