Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Comhghairdeas to the Minister and Minister of State on their appointments. They have a big job ahead of them and I wish them well in it. The right of every child to access an education system is a fundamental one and the children in Laois and those attending St. Francis School in Portlaoise are no different from those anywhere else in the country. The school has 119 children with complex needs attending it and this school serves all of the county. There are 17 classes in what is a 12-classroom school. It is a newish school but it was too small the day it was built. The school has been promised four new classrooms and these are in planning at the moment, but there are going to take some time. It could take a few years and we need a shorter-term solution. The management and staff of the school have proposed two modular classrooms be provided. There is space onsite for it. I have been there twice with the principal and members of the board of management to look at this.

The shortage of places and suitable accommodation is preventing children with additional needs getting their education. St. Francis School has 12 children leaving this June but it has 45 children already assessed as being in need of attending the school. The maths are easy on this. There are about 33 children who do not have a place and I have letters from them. A letter came in this morning from Kristina about this. She cannot get her child in there. As the Minister will be aware, if a child is not accessing school at that crucial point in their development they are missing out on education and therapy, especially if the child has special needs.

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The parents are at their wits' end. They are suffering extreme stress and worry from being told their child cannot be accommodated. The principal and staff at St. Francis School do not want to turn anyone away. It breaks their heart but they have to do it. They need these extra classrooms. I appeal to the Minister and Minister of State to approve the two modular classrooms. There is money to do so.

It is also important we consider children with special needs who are going into post-primary school this September who do not have places. The lack of forward planning of previous Governments has had a huge impact. There must be proper co-ordination with the National Council for Special Education, otherwise the fragmentation and inefficiency in the system will cause such problems. The bottom line is that I am asking the Minister and the Minister of State to grant the two modular classrooms for St. Francis School.

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