Figures secured by Involve Autism show that up to November 2020 a staggering €63,579 per day was spent on taxis and buses to take children with autism to school in south Dublin. Up to November 2021, that figure increased to €72,704 per day. That is an increase of 14.4% in the cost, so every journey is costing more as the children travel further. That is €72,704 being spent every day just in south Dublin. One wonders how many autism spectrum disorder, ASD, classes could be built for that figure. Dublin 6 is an example of where the section 37A process in the Education (Admission to Schools) Act 2018 has ended with not a single ASD class. Will the Government introduce a targeted section 37A process to address the lack of ASD classes in Dublin 2, Dublin 4, Dublin 6 and Dublin 6W as a matter of urgency?

I thank Deputy Andrews for raising this important issue. I am afraid I do not have up-to-date information on the matter but I will ask the Minister of State at the Department of Education, Deputy Madigan, to contact the Deputy's office directly with a reply as soon as possible.