Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

On Tuesday morning last, I was contacted by a very distressed parent. This mother, Tina Barrett has given me permission to raise this issue with the Tánaiste. Tina is the mother of Michael Joseph Barrett, aged five. Michael Joseph has a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder level 2. He had been waiting on an assessment of need list for more than two years, which in itself is a breach of the law. As a result, Tina has to take her child for a private assessment, which she could ill afford. Michael Joseph attends playschool for a number of reduced hours and is doing well. Tina’s next hurdle is to find an appropriate school place for her son for next September. On Tuesday morning, when she contacted me, she was at her wits' end and totally frustrated. She had just received a fifth rejection letter, refusing Michael Joseph a school place for next September. Tina says her son is a person and not a number and is entitled to a school place. Her question to the Tánaiste this afternoon is: will he make sure that her son, Michael Joseph will have an appropriate school place next September?

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