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

I thank the Minister of State. This week I spoke to a family that is campaigning for the proposed secondary school autism class in Youghal. Their current experience of primary education in Youghal is going very well for their son. However, the lead-up to being granted that school placement was a time of major trepidation as it was far from guaranteed due to the level of need out there. Looking ahead to secondary school options, the picture is far more uncertain and anxiety-provoking for this family and many other families in the area. The two nearest suitable placements would be either in Dungarvan or Carrigtwohill. Both involve significant travel time and disconnection of that boy from his local community. As things stand both of those schools are very much oversubscribed so other options the family may have to consider would be as far away as Waterford city or Rochestown in Cork. The additional travel time would be a huge additional imposition of stress for this family. This stress would be avoidable for these families if the Government was to vindicate the right of their children to be educated locally. We all know that transitions from primary school to secondary school can be difficult in the best of circumstances. This proposed new special education class would bring peace of mind to many families in and around Youghal who are currently in a very distressing limbo with regard to their children's prospective secondary school placements. I ask again for the Government's support with this through a concrete funding commitment.

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