I raise the lack of ASD classes in my constituency in Fingal, the youngest and fastest growing area of the country. Towns like Swords, Donabate and Portmarnock have ASD classes at primary school level, albeit they are vastly oversubscribed and there are huge waiting lists, but in Malahide there are no ASD classes in any of the primary schools. When Sam’s dad emails my office asking where his son is going to be able to go to school to get an education in an ASD class, I have no answer for him because there are no classes in his town. Frankly, in this day and age, that is not good enough. I am asking the Minister to go to the Minister for education and the Taoiseach and ask if they can work to provide an emergency ASD class – at least one but preferably more – for a town the size of Malahide and, where needed, all over the country.

The issue Deputy Smith raised is very important in protecting the most vulnerable children with additional needs and helping them progress in society. We can see the benefits of the investment by the State in special education over the last number of years, critically, the growth in special needs assistants and the growth in support for additional special classes. I will raise the Deputy’s concerns about Malahide to the Minister for education. It is very important and considering the scale and size of Malahide, I understand his concern. Hopefully, he can have a meeting to resolve the issue.