12 Kildare children being 'locked out' of special education places

A Sinn Féin Kildare TD has said that 12 children in the county are being “locked out” of special education places, and are being “locked out” of educational rights due to “red tape.”

Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh raised the matter of Scoil Mochua in Celbridge following a resolution put forward by the Labour Party in the Dáil today (Wednesday, April 30 2025.)

Deputy Ní Raghallaigh told the Dáil she had met many parents over the last few months, and in particular North Kildare SEN Action Group, who were working hard on the issue.

She said: “I would like to share with Members the voice of a mamaí in Kildare whose words speak for hundreds, if not thousands, of families around the country. Her daughter attends Scoil Mochua in County Kildare.

“Her four-year-old autistic son hopes to one day attend school alongside his sister and within his community and with his friends. He is currently 12th on the list for a school (for the next school year). His mamaí is not confident that he will have a place come September.”

Deputy Ní Raghallaigh explained that Scoil Mochua was approved for two autism classes for 12 children with additional needs in 2021, “but almost four years on”, these classes had yet to be built.

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This she said, was not due to a “lack of will on the part of the school”, but because of a Land Registry issue that remains unresolved.

She added: “While the Government claims it is doing everything in its power to ensure no child will be left without a school place in September, 12 children are being locked out of special education places in Kildare, and locked out of educational rights, and their human rights.

“How can we claim that special educational needs placements are at an emergency level when red tape is allowed to stand in the way of children's rights to an education?”

Deputy Ní Raghallaigh said it is the duty of the State to provide proper support to the most vulnerable people in the State, such as these children. However, that is not what is being done.

She said: “Now is the time for action. We need immediate transparency on school buildings and classes. We need a real emergency response team to cut through the red tape and the reform of the CDNT model, which is failing far too many children. These families do not want special treatment; they want fair treatment.

She concluded: “What is being done for this family and for Scoil Mochua in Celbridge, County Kildare, and many other schools that are in a similar situation across the State? Ní féidir leis na tuismitheoirí nó na páistí seo fanacht a thuilleadh (these parents or children cannot wait any longer.)”