Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Nearly two years ago, there was a particular crisis in Cork regarding the provision of special education places in schools. Thankfully, at that time, all stakeholders came together and the 50 or so children concerned were accommodated between two or three different schools and the establishment of a new school in Carrigaline. Two years on, unfortunately, we are facing the same prospect, from talking to special educational needs organisers, SENOs, and other stakeholders. There are approximately 45 children between Glanmire and Youghal in east County Cork who will not be in an appropriate education setting come September. Approximately 25 of them have no school at all or are in mainstream settings when they should perhaps be in special school settings.

What guarantee can we give the children I speak of and the families in those situations that they will have appropriate school places next September?

See this speech in context