Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This week saw the Government vote against a Sinn Féin motion on special education. Instead of engaging and working with Sinn Féin and working together to come up with solutions for the most vulnerable children in the State, the Government again refused to work with us and to listen to those children and their families.

There were 296 primary school special classes in Cork city in 2023. This compares with only 104 at secondary school level, where the ratio is 7:1. This means that there are 2,072 children in primary schools in Cork in special classes and only 728 of them have a guaranteed place in secondary school. Some 1,344 children are at risk of having no place to progress to, despite the NCSE knowing that these children need a second level place. It had eight years to plan. These children go into primary school at the age of five and when they leave at the age of 12 there are no school places available.

How can that be right? Why is that not being solved, rather than planned? It is not a capacity issue. It is a scandalous failure by the Government to look after the most vulnerable, recognise the value in all children and nourish their potential. We know about the lack of spaces and the knock-on effect that has. The lack of spaces in special schools sees children with special educational needs put in mainstream schools where they will not thrive and should not be, but there are no other options. There is a lack of special school places, leaving some children with no alternative in September but to stay at home. This is not fair. This needs to be resolved. It is heartbreaking for the parents and the children. Will the Government please deliver for the most vulnerable?

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