Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Schools admission was raised earlier. In Dublin 2, 4, 6 and 8, certain schools are cherry-picking academic-only students and everybody knows that if there is a special needs child who might be able to attend secondary school, he or she is clearly directed to other schools. These students do not necessarily need a special autism unit but could use individual supports. There is a two-tier system and, according to my colleague, the school inspection process might inquire as to why there are not more academic students but it does not ask why there is no special needs provision. All our students are missing out. The students at the schools that do not welcome special needs children grow up in a world thinking there is no such thing in real life. They do not get the wonderful lessons learned in life from living and growing up with somebody who has special needs. This applies to my area and, I am sure, in other parts of the country. Will the Minister introduce legislative measures that push every school to take their fair share of special needs students as part of their incoming stream every year?

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