There is currently no special needs education officer assigned to south Tipperary. The special educational needs organiser, SENO, in north Tipperary has been covering the area to the best of her ability. Given the rising number seeking special needs education and supports and the importance of access to SENOs for parents, will the Minister have this situation rectified? It is shocking that we do not have a SENO in south Tipperary. The last SENO did a great job. Given that Tipperary is 115 miles long, it is just not possible for the SENO in north Tipperary to provide that service. Parents are frustrated and children with such needs are not being looked after in a timely manner.

I know the importance of SENOs and the relationships they have with parents in helping them to secure an appropriate school place in communities all over Ireland. We provided increased resources for the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, in the most recent budget. That will result in an increase in the number of SENOs all over Ireland. If the Deputy provides me with the specifics of the case in south Tipperary, we will take it up. There is a new CEO in charge of the NCSE which, as I have said, has been given resources to increase the number of SENOs in the country. I hope that will help to resolve the issue in south Tipperary.