Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish that were the case. I am sure the Minister has referred it and there will be another round of discussions with the same parent, who has been on the merry-go-round with the same discussions for a considerable period of time and is constantly told to apply to other schools a considerable distance away, in one case a one and a half hour bus journey away. This particular child, who is not the only one, has a physical disability that makes long journeys impossible. It is very stressful for the parent involved who has received refusals twice or three times by other schools. How many refusals are required before it becomes clear to the National Council for Special Education that a place will not be provided in other schools which are a considerable distances away?

A school in Edenderry has made a commitment to provide second level education for children on the autistic spectrum within this catchment area but there is a space issue. That is where the solution is most likely to be found. However, it will not be found unless it has the physical place to accommodate the children. It is very difficult for people who already have a challenging life because of a child with a disability to be given the extra burden of trying to resolve this where it should be resolved in a way that causes the least amount of stress.

It is not working so far and the National Council for Special Education has been involved in the case for almost a year. We need a solution immediately.

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