Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Bill, which ensures all children with special educational needs will have access to special classes. Sinn Féin had called for this previously.

I thank all of the parents and students in Dublin 15 and Dublin 17 who worked tirelessly to ensure those children who had no school places for September were given a voice. Hundreds of worried and concerned parents turned up to a meeting in Dublin 15 in May because the NCSE had failed to ensure proper planning for the educational needs of these students. It should once again be highlighted that this is not just a problem for 2022. The numbers are deeply concerning for the next number of years. In Dublin West, for example, only 20% of students in fifth, fourth and third classes will have access to a school placement if the current situation continues.

I also highlight the issue of a behavioural therapist position for the Danu Community Special School. It is a disgrace that requests to date have fallen, and continue to fall, on deaf ears. I welcome the additional proposed resources, including special needs assistants and the enhanced services from the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS, but there is still a significant concern around the supports such as occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, and behavioural therapists. One can understand how parents, teachers, principals and school staff are deeply sceptical that these classes will be fully resourced. The evidence to date shows this has never happened.

A special class is more than a classroom, a teacher or an SNA. We must move to multidisciplinary teams supporting students, teachers and school staff.

The children are not just failed by schools and the educational system but also by the HSE in the provision of services from the very beginning of the assessment process. We hear it time and time again, whether it is the assessment itself or access to services afterwards. Every child deserves a school place and school staff must have the resources to ensure each student gets the highest-quality education and their school journey is a positive experience. That is most important. This is not just a room. It is about their education. It is about giving them the most positive experience.

I conclude with something else that needs to be raised. The recent interview on national radio was deeply unhelpful and caused huge anger. I spoke directly to the principal of Scoil Bhríde Buachaillí, a boys' national school. He totally refuted the assertion the school had not engaged with the Department of Education and the NCSE and also disputed the perception that was created that the school was refusing special classes, because it is totally incorrect. The school already has a special class with six students and operates in very difficult circumstances with limited resources and, indeed, must pull other resources to maintain students in the special class. It is important to get facts right. It is important to support the schools and support students and parents throughout the entire process from the assessment right through to a positive experience in school.

See this speech in context