Special needs school places
Deputy O'Loughlin raised the lack of secondary places for seven children with moderate special needs leaving Scoil Na Naomh Uilig in Newbridge. The Chair then moved to other business, and the Minister later said the special needs organiser would help find a place if details were provided.
The first line in section ten on page 86 of the programme for Government, which deals with education, states that education is the key to giving every child an equal opportunity in life and that no child should be left behind. I could not agree more. The key phrase there is "every child". I am standing here on behalf of seven children and their parents who do not have access to education. These children are students in Scoil Na Naomh Uilig in Newbridge who have moderate special needs. They will be leaving this school in June, and they have had an excellent opportunity and start in their educational life. This is not just starting now.
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For nearly the past year, I have working with the parents to try to find places.
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There are no secondary places available. The special school does not have any availability. Parents are looking at going to Dublin or Carlow. This is causing huge frustration for the parents.
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My point is that we need to have something.
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I do not want any insinuations from any Members of the House on either side that I am prioritising. The list is here. Members should not make any suggestions. If the Minister of State, Deputy Cannon, decides it is a different issue, that is for me to decide. I call on the Minister for Education and Skills or the Tánaiste, whoever wants to respond.