It is great to see a united party effort on this issue. We all attended the information evening in Belmayne. It is very clear we need another special school in Dublin Bay North. The issue is the option for phase 2 of the Belmayne Educate Together school has been offered by the school. It is clearly a better solution than putting these kids into prefabs. On the night we were all there, we heard parents who have children who will be attending the special school as well as children in Belmayne Educate Together urging the Department to use the phase 2 building that is already built and warmer and safer for these children who have additional needs. I urge the Department to please go with what the people of the area and all the elected TDs are asking.

Sentiment score: 0.50

I also thank the Minister of State for coming to the cross-party meeting on autism. When I raised this matter with him, he looked at it straight away. All the TDs in Dublin Bay North have raised this matter because they have been fighting for it since before I was elected. There is a prefab pandemic in Dublin Bay North, as those involved with running Gaelchólaiste Reachrann have noted. People have seen how it is never a temporary solution. I welcome what Deputy O’Callaghan said. The amount of work that would have to be done to make the existing prefabs suitable as accommodation for a special school would come at a great cost to the Department. I also welcome what Deputy Mitchell said. The Minister of State can visit the school and see what needs to be done. If he does so, it will change his mind.

Sentiment score: 0.17