Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The lack of special educational needs places in schools for children in Dublin Bay North is as bad as anywhere in the State. I have been in contact with a number of parents in recent months who cannot secure a place for their child for the school year starting in September. They have applied to all the schools in the area but cannot access something that is their child's right. These parents face battles every day. They have to battle for their children and are now fighting a battle that they cannot win because of the severe lack of places. These children have been failed by the State.

The Minister has given a commitment to review section 37 of the Education Act, which is welcome but no good to parents here and now. Successive Governments have failed to tackle the issue of appropriate school places for children with additional needs. In the real world, this amounts to neglect by the State. Parents are not asking for much. They ask that their children be given the same opportunities as any other child.

My colleague, Deputy Ó Laoghaire, brought forward a motion on Tuesday calling for the Minister to bring in emergency legislation to tackle the lack of places. The motion also called for a review and proper forward planning for future years. The Government voted against this. Watching that debate, it was clear that the Ministers are failing to grasp how serious this issue is and that it requires urgent intervention. We need such intervention now. Will the Minister of State confirm whether her Department is proceeding with the proposal for emergency special education centres? People deserve an answer to that.

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