This Government and this State do not cherish all the children of the nation equally when it comes to education. We are here discussing appropriate school places, inclusive education and ensuring that children have the correct supports they require. Unfortunately, we keep having this conversation because there is a continuity of failure to deliver. I will start with one example, but we could all probably list 50: Hi Ruairí, my name is Lisa, and I'm emailing regarding my son Matthew who attends an ASD class in a primary school in Dundalk. He's going to secondary school in September. I could not get him a place in an ASD class as they are so full he has to go to mainstream. My problem is that an SNA co-ordinator has told me that she can't promise him SNA access as they only have six between first and sixth year. Matthew is only coming 12 and still a flight risk. He can't even go out and play on the street without fear of him wandering off. He is a very trusting wee boy and would go off and speak to anyone. I don't think that he would be able to be left alone and go looking for classes or go to lunch on his own. He would wander off and would need constant supervision. She was told to contact a TD. That is what everyone gets told to do because we are not delivering the service required. My son, Turlough, who I have mentioned before, would not have stayed in school in St. Joseph's or in Ó Fiaich College, where he is absolutely thriving, without that support. I will also talk about another mother who has a seven-year-old child with Down's syndrome and autism who is non-verbal. I have been talking to the NCSE for the last two and a half months about the big issue that she has no appropriate place at present. She is too special for a special school, so that is a problem. Children are falling between stools all the time. We need to get serious and we need to offer a solution across the board, and not an absolute disaster of Private Members' motions and then an absolute mess every September.

Sentiment score: -0.02