Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

I will stick to one topic, namely, the issue of special education and its provision generally. Two words not in the programme for Government are "teacher shortage". The Government does not seem to realise this is a problem. It is an emergency and a crisis. I do not have time to develop that statement, but it is incredible that it is not mentioned or dealt with.

We have a phenomenon in Ireland, which does not arise in any other EU country, where people have to go out and campaign for a school place and a school building. It is incredible. It afflicts Dublin West in particular because it has such a young population. The Government of Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil was forced to set up a task force in Dublin 15 on the issue of special education because parents embarrassed it into doing so through the protests I was involved in helping to organise. The problem is that the schools taking part in this have identified 104 applications, but 111 children have been identified in mainstream education who need help as well. It seems to me this task force will diagnose the problem but has no medicine to treat it. It has no budget, no money and that will not, unfortunately, lead to places. Two parents have contacted me. One has 13 refusal letters from the universal application system that was set up. Places are going to children who are already in the schools that people are applying to. Somebody could be number one on the waiting list and find himself or herself knocked off it. Apparently, the SENOs' phones were not contactable for a week after these letters were sent to parents.

I will also mention special schools in Dublin West. It is an area the size of most cities in Ireland and has one special school that is not properly resourced. The mother of a 13-year-old young fella has contacted me. She is in terrible distress. He was promised a school place in Danu special school last September. He was given bus provision as well. That young boy is still sitting at home. Does the Minister of State think that is acceptable in 2025? That young boy will not be in school this year because not only does he not have a teacher or an SNA; he does not have a building to go into. The building work has not started on that school. Not only do we need to hear answers from the Government about when the building will start for the people who were promised places for 2024-25, another 30 are waiting for places for the next school year.

It seems to me that education is provided on a shoestring in this country but parents are not willing to put up with it any more. Teachers are not willing to stay in it any more. They are leaving in droves. This has to be addressed.

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