Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)

I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to debate the following urgent matter: the problems being encountered by parents of children with special educational needs in accessing second level school places. In a recent parliamentary reply communicated to me from the Minister for Education and Science it was stated that the National Council for Special Education had no way of knowing how many children will require special educational facilities as they make the transition from primary to secondary school. During the five-year lead-in period for the NCSE, no attempt has been made to ensure that the needs of children in these circumstances are anticipated and provided for in line with their requirements. I call on the Minister for Education and Science to implement a comprehensive planned and co-ordinated policy on the provision of education to children with special educational needs from infancy to adulthood.

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