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situation could arise in which two payments could be made for the same person. In a case I am aware of, that of Sheila Duffy and her late partner, Johnny, the couple were in a loving and committed relationship for over 35 years until Johnny's death … However, when they met, divorce was not legal in Ireland and Johnny had previously been married. Sheila and Johnny had a daughter together and they were a family. Unfortunately, Sheila was forced to sell her home when Johnny died because she was refused the widow's pension

hundreds of parents who do not know if their children will have a school place in September. One mother in north Cork, Sheila Casey Jones, told the Irish Examiner that her son Patrick has received 29 rejections for a school place. The situation is now so desperate that … Sheila is contacting schools as far away as Laois, Kilkenny and Donegal to find a place. How has the Taoiseach and the Government let a situation like this happen, whereby a family in Cork is desperately looking for school places as far away as Donegal? I attended

clarify, funding is not an issue here. The Deputy spoke about planning and so forth. I am aware of the case highlighted by Sheila Casey Jones in respect of her son Patrick. In Cork alone, we now have about 16 special schools, as well as Cork University Hospital … that issue is for that school on the northside of Cork that could be acquired. This needs to happen quickly for parents like Sheila Casey Jones and their kids. I take the point that these issues need to be accelerated but there has been much more happening