Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise the urgent need to increase special school capacity right across Ireland. There are parents everywhere in Ireland at the moment who are looking for and fighting for places for their children in special schools. In west Cork we do not even have a special school. That needs to change urgently. I wish to raise the issue of a child who lives close to where we are in the centre of Dublin. Robbie McGrath from Clontarf is 13 years old. He has a dual diagnosis of Down's syndrome and autism spectrum disorder. His mother Marrita has applied to 12 different special schools for a place for him next September. All have rejected her efforts so far because they do not have capacity. Robbie is a flight risk. He has limited vocabulary. He needs help with personal care and feeding. He needs a place in a special school next September. I am asking the Taoiseach to help.

See this speech in context