Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I commend People Before Profit-Solidarity. I wish to speak about a young boy in my own county by the name of Josh. His local special school could not take him on the basis that his needs were outside its remit as his condition was termed moderate to severe. Incidentally, this is the school his brother also attends. Unfortunately, this contradicts the Department’s notion that a child’s designation should not be a reason for the child not being accepted into a school.

Another school was eventually identified to his mother, Sabrina, but the surroundings in which Josh would have been placed were wholly unsuitable. It is just a room, with windows that are easily accessible. Josh is a flight risk. It is near a road and does not have a quiet area, sensory garden or any other additions needed to make it in any way suitable or acceptable to him. There is also a deficit in the teacher and SNA to pupil ratio. It is wholly unsuitable. The school is effectively being forced to use this unsuitable room to cater to the demand the Government has not provided for.

In addition, the parents were told the school would only get funding to make it suitable if Josh actually attends the school first. His parents say that one experience of those surroundings would ensure he would never tolerate any suggestion of returning. Why is the Department doing this backwards? Why can the Department not ensure schools have the facilities to take the children first, rather than forcing children into unsuitable spaces before they are made safe? It defies logic. Why could the first school Josh’s parents applied to not be facilitated? That school would be more suitable anyway. Why will the Minister of State not engage with the family about this?

Sabrina met the Taoiseach recently. He made all the right sounds, but there has been nothing from him, his office or anybody else since. I appeal to the Minister of State to engage with the family, who have no school to send their son to and who are being ignored by the Department. I also appeal to the Minister of State to revise the wholly inappropriate measure of forcing a child into unsuitable surroundings before any move is made to improve matters. I have the family's details and have emailed them to the Minister of State. I remind her that she said any family associated with the NCSE would have a school place by September. She claims she is committed to improving circumstances for families. She should please do the right thing for Josh and his mother, Sabrina, and all the other families affected.

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