The Department of Education has a budget of more than €2 billion to fund the costs of more than 14,000 special education teachers and 19,000 special needs assistants, SNAs, which supports a broad continuum of education for children.

Scoil Naomh Cholmcille. Tullydonnell, Togher, Drogheda, County Louth, has applied for supports for three incoming children with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder, ASD, along with five other children in mainstream school, who have received a diagnosis during the period of lockdown, plus the six children already in the school with additional needs. The school was told it already had significant resources. It provided a timetable outlining what was needed in order to provide for the extra students.

Scoil Naomh Cholmcille has 177 students and a total of 14 children with additional needs. It has 1.8 SNAs, which means one full-time SNA, and one full-time special education teacher plus a part-time one. Can the Department of Education stand over the opinion that this is adequate cover for 14 students requiring additional resources? Children with ASD-----

The Deputy’s time is up.

-----have problems with social, emotional and educational skills.

The Deputy’s time is up.

Could the Taoiseach please ask the Minister, Deputy Foley, if the Department could examine the situation as Scoil Naomh Cholmcille needs further resources?

For God's sake.

I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. He correctly pointed out the enormous resources that are there – 19,000 SNAs and 14,000 special education teachers. The National Council for Special Education makes the decisions in respect of the various schools and the assessments that are carried out through the special educational needs organisers, SENOs. I will bring the issue the Deputy highlighted to the attention of the Minister.