Shannen is the mother of four children who all have additional needs. Her daughter Evie went to Castlejordan national school in County Meath from junior infants. After meetings with the school, Evie moved to Clonard school, which has an autism class and more resources. In under a year Evie has nearly fully integrated back into mainstream education with access to autism support and she is thriving. Sadly, Evie is now isolated from the local kids and has lost local friendships from a school the family can see from their front door. Shannen's son Fionn is almost four and attends an autism playschool in Robinstown, an 80 km round trip for a child with additional needs. There were no closer options. Shannen has spent 13 years fighting for support for her children and says services are getting worse. A lack of accessible services locally is an issue that has deeply affected Fionn and has left his mother Shannen feeling powerless to get the system to support him. She wonders whether he will have a school place when needed. What measures are being put in place so children like Fionn with additional needs can attend their local schools and do not have to travel halfway around the country?

I thank Deputy Guirke for raising this issue in relation to Shannen and her children. I am pleased to hear that Evie is thriving but I very much take the point about people wanting their child to be able to thrive in their own community and not be isolated from that community. I take the point. There is also anxiety as to whether Fionn will have an appropriate place. The budget we are working through for 2026 allocated funding for 433 additional special classes. Of these, 432 have been sanctioned and this week the Government allocated significant additional resources to the Department of education. Much of this will be for special education to increase further the number of classes. I believe we will need a number much closer to 600 by this September. If Deputy Guirke wants to send the specific details to the Minister, Deputy Naughton, I will ask that she comes back to him directly.