Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I congratulate the Leas-Cheann Comhairle on his appointment.

The lack of suitable school places for children with additional needs is critical for many families in my constituency of Cork East. There are 16 autism classes in five primary schools in or around the Youghal area. These are feeder schools for Youghal's only secondary school, Pobalscoil na Tríonóide, which has only three autism classes. This equates to 96 students in primary schools who will be seeking to avail of one of 18 secondary school places. Parents can be left in a deeply unsettling state of uncertainty in the lead up to a decision on their school placement applications for their children.

I spoke earlier about the draw that took place recently in St. John's Special School in Dungarvan, overseen by a Garda superintendent, after which 20 children from Cork, south Tipperary and Waterford were left without a school place. This means families have to transport their children long distances daily for their basic schooling. In my constituency, it means families having to face travelling into Cork city or potentially Waterford city to access education for their children. The stress of long school commutes, some of which are spent in traffic congestion, can take an immense and cumulative psychological toll on these children and their families. Attending school so far from home also disconnects children from their communities at a particularly sensitive stage of their development. This is entirely at odds with their interests and their rights and is heaping another form of chronic stress upon the many other challenges these families contend with.

A group of parents has come together to advocate for an additional autism class in Youghal. I ask for the Government's support to establish this special educational needs class in Youghal, which would be aimed at students known as "special educational needs betweeners", who are autistic children with mild learning disabilities. These students have educational needs that are too complex for mainstream classes but would not necessarily qualify for a special school placement. They are at risk of falling between the cracks of the mainstream and special school systems. The proposed class would help to address some of the educational gaps these students face while allowing them to attend school in their existing school community. The class would allow students to follow a differentiated curriculum and access additional supports, such as individualised education plans customised to meet each student's needs. The class would be integrated into the wider school community, ensuring social inclusion and helping to reduce the stigma that can often be associated with disabilities.

I mention the efforts of my TD and councillor colleagues in east Cork, who are also committed to this campaign. I am glad to hear that Deputy O'Connor, who is working closely with families and other stakeholders, has invited the Minister of State to meet the stakeholders of this campaign in Youghal. I believe a date has been scheduled for this visit.

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