I welcome my neighbours, who are guests of Senator Joe O'Reilly. I hope they have a great day.

I am sorry to have to raise another issue with special educational needs. The issue has been in the media for the past two weeks. It relates to places for children with special educational needs who are going into secondary school. Unfortunately, there are 14 families in Castleblayney, County Monaghan, who have not secured places. It is a pity. It is very hard on the families, particularly those who have to fight for every single thing they get for their children. Paddy McAloon, Olivia Larkin and Special Needs Active Parents, SNAP, in Monaghan have been fighting tirelessly for their children to receive what they should get, legally and rightfully, without a fight.

Those 14 families applied for seven spaces in a special education class. There is an additional special educational class in a school in Castleblayney that does not have the resources to open that class. These people have had to go to the media. They have had to bare their souls and the most intimate details of their family's lives so they can get the attention to shame the Government into looking after their children. That should not have to be the case. I ask the Department to step in and give the resources necessary to these families in Castleblayney before they have to prostrate themselves any further at the altar of the Department of education and the media.