A nine-year-old autistic boy called Harry who attended an autism class in his local primary school is now facing expulsion. An incident occurred last Thursday week which caused him to have a meltdown. He and his mother were waved off from school afterwards by the principal and his class teacher who said "We will see you tomorrow", only for his family to receive an email that night stating he was suspended pending a board of management meeting to consider expulsion. Harry had been progressing well in school. He is now crying several times a day because he wants to go to school and does not understand why he cannot do so. I ask the Taoiseach to address this issue with the Minister for Education and the Minister of State with responsibility for special education. Children with additional needs, in particular those attending special educational settings, should not be expelled. They have a right to an education in their local schools with their siblings. Principals can apply to the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, to provide additional resources where required. This is happening too often and it has to stop.

I am always reluctant to deal with an individual case because I do not know the background to it and so forth, but no child with special needs should be expelled from school. Obviously, there could be circumstances that I am not aware of. However, what should happen immediately is that the various support services and special education needs organisers should be consulted first and measures taken to facilitate the child's placement in the school. The Department of Education will provide the resources for every situation. No child, particularly one with special needs, should be treated in that manner or identified in that way either. Again, I do not want to pass judgment without knowing the full details to be fair to all concerned. Ideally, this should be resolved on the ground, with the involvement of the family, the school community and the NCSE.