Monkstown Educate Together National School has lost a whole special education teacher for next year. This is happening all over the place because of this new model of allocation of special education resources and the removal of complex needs as a criterion. It needs to be addressed. When speaking to school communities affected by this, they make a simple point - the Department should trust the schools to tell it what they need. In Monkstown Educate Together National School, the same kids are there and they have the same needs but because of this new algorithm, which has removed complex needs, the school is down a special education teacher. In Sallynoggin Educate Together National School, there is another example of the anomalies. The school has two autism classes, wants to open two more and is in a position to do so, but is being told by the Department of Education that it will not get them until it gets its permanent building.

Time is up, Deputy.

Other schools do not want them. We need to look into this and change the model based on need.

On autism classes, 1,300 additional teachers have been appointed, we have opened new special schools and we are opening new autism classes on a regular basis. There will be specific issues with specific schools, with configuration of buildings and so on. All that has to be in place before you can take on a new school. On the allocation model, the Minister has informed us that school bodies and managerial bodies at a national level, for example, support the new model.

Not the schools.

I am just saying what the position has been at national level. Principals' organisations also support the new model.

Not all of them.

We are anxious that no child with a complex need will be under-provided for in respect of the allocation model. We will keep the matter under review.