Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 312: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if students in schools for children with special needs are required to leave such schools on reaching their 18th birthday, even if this is before the date of the leaving certificate; the limit there is to the duration of students' attendance at such schools; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39457/05]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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Special schools and special classes funded by my Department are intended to cater for children and young persons with special educational needs from four years of age until the end of the school year in which they reach their 18th year. However, if particular circumstances arise whereby there is a necessity for a pupil to continue in a special school setting beyond the period outlined above, my Department will consider any such requests for extension from the special school in which the pupil is enrolled on a case-by-case basis.