The Sinn Féin vice-president was speaking at the party's annual ard fheis (conference), which is being held in Belfast.

Given that one in five pupils in Northern Ireland - over 70,000 - have some form of SEN, the reforms will have a widespread impact.

A yellow warning was issued across Northern Ireland from Wednesday, lasting until at least Sunday.

The consultancy firm Savills said further development is currently unviable and "market sentiment is that this sector is fully satisfied".

The state of emergency departments in Northern Ireland has been described as "utterly horrifying".