Carrigaline special school exclusion
Deputy O'Flynn raised concerns about exclusions and reduced hours at Carrigaline Community Special School after a closure. The Taoiseach said he had confidence in Cork ETB’s role in special education and the State’s growing responsibility in the area.
I was contacted directly by families affected by this issue who felt that they had no other avenue to go to have their concerns heard. Will the Taoiseach address the situation in Carrigaline Community Special School, which closed its doors for six days following an incident involving one child and reopened, excluding a different child and a parent who were not involved in the event that caused the closure without lawful basis or a breach of procedures? Does he accept that families are being pushed towards reduced school hours and that Cork Education and Training Board, ETB, has stated that it cannot meet its needs when it comes to some of the children enrolled in its care, despite its statutory obligations? In those circumstances, does he consider that Cork ETB is fit for purpose as patron of that particular school and does he stand over the actions of the school? Will he commit to an urgent independent intervention, including full-time orthopaedic supports, and outline the immediate steps that are being taken to restore proper provisions to ensure that no child is denied their appropriate education?
Comment on this
I do have confidence in Cork ETB in respect of special education. A number of years ago, it stepped into the breach to establish the school to provide desperately needed places in an area where children could not get places at the time. We had to take action. For the long term ETBs have a very significant role in special education across the country. That is my view. If we look at how it is evolving, some of the section 39 bodies have pulled back from education so the State has to get more involved in this particular area. The structures of ETBs are such that they have flexibility in providing resources.
On the specific case in Carrigaline, I have been in touch with the ETB and I am fully aware of the difficulties and challenges that have occurred there. We are working with the ETB to provide additional resources to enable that school to operate as optimally and effectively as it can for the benefit of the young people who attend it.