Frank O'Rourke (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to speak this afternoon on this Private Members' motion brought before the House by my colleague, Deputy Thomas Byrne. I commend him on the work he has done in this area and in the general education portfolio.

Education is a significant issue for children, both in mainstream and special educational needs schools, who become homeless. Those who require learning supports are already vulnerable. When they become homeless, it becomes more critical.

Children in such circumstances tend to have to travel long journeys to school as their emergency accommodation tends to be far from where their school is based. Travelling back and forth can have a significant impact on them. Some families in such circumstances may not have the resources to travel these long journeys and they try to get their children into schools close to their emergency accommodation. However, this is not always possible. Schools can be at full capacity and extra spaces may not be available. In some cases, the families go without and this has major consequences for the children and family unit.

Students in emergency accommodation have issues when trying to do their homework or study for State examinations because their families often live in one or two small rooms. This places them at a major disadvantage in developing and progressing in educational circles. Children with learning difficulties or challenges which are categorised in some cases as special needs are at a more significant disadvantage because it is difficult for a school to put the necessary resources in place. A school must also have them approved by the Department but this can be difficult if the child is not attending the school for a long time. I know of children who were attending school in Kilcock, their family was put into emergency accommodation in Portlaoise but they were offered a home in Athy. That is the kind of problem with which we are dealing. It is how one develops a mechanism of dealing with that logistical problem. Schools applying for extra resources for children with special needs must go through an assessment and then make an application to the Department. Getting approval can be a protracted process in any event. The environment of emergency accommodation is negative for children and impacts on their education. More resources need to be put in place to assist families and children who find themselves homeless and in emergency accommodation. This will in turn assist in solving the issues raised by this motion.

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