On Saturday week, 7 June, at 2 p.m. at the Garden of Remembrance, parents, families and their supporters will hold yet another protest to demand their children with additional needs have the right to education, just like any other child - appropriate education in their community as outlined in the UNCRPD. The protest is part of a growing national movement, equality in education, demanding urgent action to ensure children with additional needs receive the education support and resources they deserve. These parents should not be forced to sleep outside the Dáil or to organise protests and public meetings around the country. It is a basic thing to have a school place with the support and staff their children need to thrive. It is unacceptable that in 2025 children are being denied access to education because of a lack of investment, planning and political will. This protest is a vital opportunity to show those families will not be silenced or sidelined any longer. Will the Tánaiste guarantee that every child will have an appropriate school place in their community?

I agree with a lot of what the Deputy said in the sense that no parent should have to protest in relation to that. I would just say - the Deputy may or may not agree - that there is not a lack of political will. Everybody in this House wants to get this issue right. I believe the Minister, Deputy McEntee, has engaged with a number of families involved and is willing, as is the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, to do that again. It would be good to see that happen. People obviously have a right to protest and rightly feel strongly about this but engagement directly with the Minister and Department is important and I would like to see that happening. I know the Minister would too.

It is our absolute priority to ensure every child in the State has access to a school place. The Department of Education and Youth is continually planning for this and investing in existing and new schools and is also now bringing forward the time at which projections for the following year are made. That needs to happen much earlier. The Minister is working on that. We have seen 400 new special places provided for in budget 2025. My understanding is 399 of the 400 have been sanctioned already. I can get the Deputy a breakdown, which might be useful for the families he is working with as well.