Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Appropriate school places, particularly for those children with special needs, has to be a priority. I agree with the Minister on that, but the fact is we are now dealing with what has been an abject failure for children and families. It has been stated by many already that we have all been contacted over many years by frustrated parents who cannot get their kids into school places. I have dealt with many who have spoken about their kids and the criteria. Whether it is for mainstream, autism units or special schools, they are told their child's intellectual disability, ID, may be too high or too low, and it is not even sure that the child will fit criteria anywhere. We are dealing with multiple failures and issues.

As regards school places, I welcome the fact the Minister spoke about departmental and NCSE engagement with schools and making sure there are spaces. I have spoken to many principals who talked about their engagement with the Department's school building unit. They talk about huge issues and providing the information, but the information does not come back in time. There are issues relating to planning, which rarely occur at a local authority point. However, the management of this used to be in the gift of schools but is not always, so at times this pushes it back and back. We all celebrate tiny victories at times when two or three kids, or possibly four or five, and it is sometimes only one, get into a particular school. You at least know that a family, parent and child will be sorted. The issue is many more are absolutely failed over a significant period.

The common application system makes sense. It needs to be operated. I introduced legislation in the previous Dáil term, which I will reintroduce. It is the Education (Amendment) Bill. The idea is that parents with kids with disabilities will be able to apply two years ahead. This is so the school and everyone else can get all their ducks in a row and we could ensure that the supports are there. We have to stop talking about the fact that we are expanding the school inclusion model. We need to make sure it is rolled out across the board. The failure in respect of assessments and therapies can only be sorted by putting the resource where the need is, which is for therapies and assessments to happen in schools.

See this speech in context