Lack of special school places in Kildare raised in Dáil
Labour TD for Kildare South, Mark Wall raised the issue in the Dáil recently
A Labour TD for Kildare South has raised the lack of special school places in Kildare in the Dáil.
Deputy Mark Wall was addressing Minister of State at the Department of Education and Youth, Michael Moynihan recently.
Specifically, Deputy Wall raised the matter of a new school in Ros Glas in Monasterevin, which he said is already fully subscribed, despite not yet being open.
Deputy Wall said: “I have been dealing with Kildare and Wicklow Education and Training Board on this, as I said to the Minister of State previously. However, what I need to hear from the Government today is what those families who do not have a school place for their loved ones in a special school setting are to do.
“The children need a special school setting, yet the families have applied to ten, 12 or 13 schools without success. Where are they to go?”
Responding, Deputy Moynihan told Deputy Wall this was “a very small cohort of students and young people” who do not have a school place, and the Department was putting in a “huge effort” to find a resolution.
Deputy Wall asked the Minister of State whether he or the government thinks these families will have a school place for their children “in the coming weeks and months.”
He said: “Some are currently homeschooling and some are trying to fit into other schools, but it is not working out and they need special school places. They tell me their children are suffering. Routine is important for these children. They need to be learning with their peers and need special school places.
“The Minister of State spoke about a 'small cohort.' I am dealing with more than ten families at the moment. That is a considerable number of families I am dealing with who have applied for a special school place in the new Monasterevin school and did not get a place.”
Deputy Moynihan replied: “Whatever about guaranteeing things as a Minister of State, what I can say is that the NCSE and the Department are working with the families and relevant schools to continue to support them until we have found a place. We will continue to do that. We are aware of the small cohort of students who are without a school place.
“We are doing everything we can at the weekly update meeting and right through the week. The NCSE and the Department will continue to support the families until a place is found. I can assure the Deputy of that because we are really concerned about it and we will continue to liaise with families to find a solution for their loved ones.”