Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The problem with the NCSE saying "Not right now" is that a child had to leave that school and must now go outside the catchment area. Their siblings are still at the school. In September, another child, who has a full diagnosis of ASD and two siblings in the school, will have to separate from his or her brothers and sisters. Next year, in September 2024, the same will happen again with a new child who has already got a full diagnosis. The classroom is there. There are no capital works involved. The school has a sensory room and there are toilets right outside the classroom. It has a sensory garden. This is an inclusive school. It needs the staff and it needs the sanction. In this day and age, this is cruel when a school and its board of management are willing to keep families together to ensure an inclusive educational setting. I ask the Minister of State to look at this again. I know there is other capacity but this is an issue of splitting families and discriminating against these children who cannot go to school in their catchment area despite the fact that all of the parents, the staff and the board of management want them to. There are no capital works required. It is a staffing issue and something that can be resolved.

See this speech in context