Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

In September, I raised with the Taoiseach the fact that at the time no autism spectrum disorder, ASD, unit or classroom was available for primary school children in Carrick-on-Suir. In his reply, the Taoiseach stated that there was no issue with resourcing ASD units, that extra classes are being opened and schools needed to apply for ASD units. At the end of last week, parents were informed that it is not as easy as the Taoiseach made it out to be. An application made by Gaelscoil Charraig na Siúire was unsuccessful.

Last September, people locally were forced to set up a campaign group to highlight the need for the service, given the difficulties they faced in securing places for their children. One parent highlighted to me that she had looked outside of the local area for an ASD unit to which she could send her daughter. She applied to three schools that had these units, all of which were outside of the area. Each told her that despite booking a place two years in advance, they could not guarantee that she could get one. It has since emerged that in the three or so years previously, as many as 20 people were found to have secured services outside of their area. However, the availability of spaces has dried up and the need for a unit in Carrick-on-Suir has never been more pronounced.

As stated, I raised this matter with the Taoiseach who told me there was no issue with resourcing ASD units. An application was made by the local Gaelscoil last Friday. It was told that current demand appears to be met from the current established classes in the surrounding areas. The school and parents were heartbroken and outraged by this because the reason given for the decision is clearly not based on the reality of the situation.

I have been informed that Piltown has 19 children on a waiting list. Portlaw also has a waiting list. Mooncoin and Carrigeen are full. There is no provision in Clonmel. Carrick-on-Suir and Clonmel combined have a considerable population, yet are meant to make do with the services provided in smaller communities elsewhere. The truth is that to say the requirement for Carrick-on-Suir will be met by existing ASD classes is simply wrong. I have also been told that, when asked, one of the people who signed the letter that turned down an application could neither name nor identify where the additional capacity they referred to was. This is an outrageous way to treat a community and indicates that the system is clearly broken and children have to suffer as a result. There is also a feeling that the lack of special educational needs organisers in South Tipperary is putting Carrick-on-Suir and the wider area off the map.

Is it the case that it is seen as appropriate for a town bordering Kilkenny and Wexford to rely on existing services in those counties? Is it right that children who have a specific need must attend mainstream classes because their particular needs are too much of a headache for the Department? Either way, it is a complete disservice to the children and families of Carrick-on-Suir and the wider area of that part of south Tipperary to say that their needs can be met elsewhere when clearly they cannot.

Can the Minister of State tell the people of Carrick-on-Suir why it is seen as appropriate for the Department to tell them that their needs can be met elsewhere when they clearly cannot? Why is there no special educational needs organiser to represent people's needs?

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