Mr. John Kearney:

I empathise with them completely. I have walked these byways and was a principal dealing with parents. In my role I can completely empathise with parents. In the past three months I have met many such parents. Unfortunately, it is in another context and having another conversation that I would like to have with those parents. I would prefer to be speaking about the teaching and learning experience in schools but, unfortunately, it is a more depressing conversation about trying to secure special class placements. Not only am I meeting them but I am fortunate to be joined by the committed staff within the NCSE, and our special education needs organisers, SENOs, are out and about.

To correct an implication that was made, our SENOs cannot engage with the enrolment process, which is the individual preserve of schools. We can only advise on placements and support parents in trying to progress an enrolment request with an individual school. We get the confusion and upset, however, and we know the hurt and trauma inflicted by on parents by each letter of rejection to families.