John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

There is so little time to discuss this matter. The parents who have come to me and my colleague, Deputy Thomas Byrne, have given us a list, based on the Department's figures, for enrolment in ASD classes in 2018. In the Dublin 6 area there are no ASD places in scoil náisiúnta Stratford, Rathgar national school, St. Joseph's boys national school, Terenure, Zion Parish primary school, Sandford Parish national school, Gaelscoil Lios na nÓg, Kildare Place national school, Clochar Lughaidh Cailín, and Ranelagh multindenominational school.

In Dublin 6W. there are no ASD places or no ASD unit in Scoil Mológa, Harold's Cross national school, St. Pius X boys' national school, St. Pius X girls' national school, Bishop Shanahan national school and Bishop Galvin national school. In Dublin 12, there are no ASD places or units in Drimnagh Castle, Our Lady of Good Counsel boys' senior national school and Scoil Mhuire. The list of schools that have neither an ASD class nor an ASD place goes on. There are six places in Muire na Dea Coirle girls senior national school. This is nothing short of a scandal. Despite what the Minister said in terms of the response, could he intervene with the relevant authorities and talk to the boards of management about the provision of classes? The situation is at a critical stage. Parents are at their wits' end. One parent has applied to 26 schools looking for a place for a child with special needs.

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