Cabinet Committees
Dail Éireann — 2026-06-09
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Micheál Martin (FF), Cork South-Central

That is the point. That is what invariably happens with industrial relations so that may be the factor here.
I accept Deputy Paul Murphy's general point. The incidence of autism seems to have grown dramatically. Although some say it is better diagnosed, I am not so sure any more. The numbers are significant in terms of expansion of services in health, but particularly in education. Even this year it has been significant. In the most recent census, in comparison with the previous one, there has been an exponential increase in adults and children declaring a disability. There is a challenge that in the overarching focus on autism, other disabilities perhaps do not get the same attention or focus. General disability special classes are important, such as for Down's syndrome. There are good organisations that advocate for Down's syndrome. The Government works well with them. However, it is something I will raise with the Minister to see whether we have a proper audit of the provision of service and there is a sufficiency of service for those with mild or moderate learning disabilities.
Deputy O'Callaghan raised St. Francis school. It was raised earlier in the Order of Business, presumably by his Sinn Féin constituency colleague. Apparently it went through the independent appeals process. It is one pupil short of the criteria governing the appointment of teachers and the enrolment numbers. I will raise it with the Minister, but the Minister made it clear to the Deputy that the independent appeals process made a decision on it. I do not know whether or not it is a growing population area or there is some manoeuvrability for the decision makers.
Deputy Whitmore raised a new special school for Wicklow. I will have to follow up on that. Is she saying absolutely nothing has happened since then?

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-06-09/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-14T01:01:05+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-06-09