Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

Respectfully, all of those figures mean nothing to families who cannot find a place or an appropriate place. The Minister of State says there are 15 special schools in County Cork. That is wonderful but there is not one special school in all of Cork South-West although it is one of the biggest constituencies in the country. The inadequacy of education and healthcare supports for children with disabilities is one of the issues I raise most frequently. I have repeatedly called for the provision of resources for national and secondary schools in Cork South-West and across Ireland and for the Government to finally provide appropriate education for children and young people. There are examples of best practice to be found in schools across my constituency and, I am sure, in others - principals, staff, parents and students themselves all working to help to create incredibly inclusive and progressive environments. It is important to highlight that they are improving but I am working with many parents who have had to keep their children in primary school for an additional, unnecessary year or have had to travel over an hour away due to a lack of local places. This is just the reality faced by so many families in Ireland at the moment.

What is being done for these families? What is the urgent response?

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