I will speak about the impact of the Ministers' proposals on moderate general learning disability schools. The future of children relies on schools like Our Lady of Fatima School in Wexford town. The Government's proposal to remove its MGLD designation threatens to dismantle the very support system that these children depend on. I am delighted to see Darryl, chair of the parents association, and his daughter, Grace, a student at Our Lady of Fatima School, in the Gallery this evening. People across County Wexford have said plainly that this proposal is misguided and will be harmful. It disregards the lived reality of families, the expertise of teachers and the needs of children, who deserve the specialised, consistent and compassionate education provided by Our Lady of Fatima and schools like it right across the country. We must be absolutely clear about what this designation means. MGLD status is not just a label; it is a lifeline. It ensures that children with mild general learning disabilities receive tailored teaching, smaller classes, specialised resources and an environment built around their strengths and challenges. Removing this designation does not modernise education or streamline services. Instead, it strips away protections that were put in place because the children in these schools needed them. Parents have said repeatedly that this school is not just a building but a community that understands their children in a way that mainstream settings simply cannot. Teachers have warned that removing the designation will scatter vulnerable students to environments that are not prepared, resourced or trained to meet their needs. On behalf of the children in Wexford and across the country who will be affected by the removal of these designations, I urge the Ministers to review and reverse this decision because it will have such a great impact on the affected children.

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