Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Once again, I return to the issue of disability services and school places in south Tipperary. Last week, I handed a number of letters to the Tánaiste from very concerned families who cannot get school places for their children with autism. This continues, with many children still without a school place.

This week, I was in receipt of a letter highlighting the urgent action required to support Scoil Chormaic special school in Cashel. It is a wonderful school with wonderful staff. Scoil Chormaic is a special school providing education to 219 children and young people with more severe and complex special educational needs. The staff of Scoil Chormaic have now come together to highlight the difficulties they are having in getting the essential and necessary resources required. They believe the processes are far too onerous and long. The needs of children have become more complex but resources have not increased with that need. For example, in respect of dual diagnosis and behaviours of concern, resources are lacking or there are none at all. We need supports for such schools, as well as for school places in general, but this particular school badly needs extra resources.

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