Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach says there will have to be forward planning in the future. Why is that forward planning not taking place under this Government? Why did it not take place under the previous Government? The crisis in special education is simply getting worse under the Taoiseach's watch. There are now hundreds of parents who do not know if their children will have a school place in September. One mother in north Cork, Sheila Casey Jones, told the Irish Examiner that her son Patrick has received 29 rejections for a school place. The situation is now so desperate that Sheila is contacting schools as far away as Laois, Kilkenny and Donegal to find a place. How has the Taoiseach and the Government let a situation like this happen, whereby a family in Cork is desperately looking for school places as far away as Donegal?

I attended a protest outside the Department of Education on Friday where parents were sleeping out to try to get places for their children with additional needs. No one should have to do this. Speaking to families at the protest, their deep frustration was clear. Parents told me they had been cast into the role of project manager in trying to secure a place for their children. They are co-ordinating between school principals, boards of management, builders, the NCSE and the Department of Education. They are desperately trying to get classrooms delivered in time for their children to start school. Despite all their efforts, days, weeks and months go by without progress being made. This is incredibly frustrating for parents and families who are already facing huge pressures and responsibilities and it is grossly unfair on children who may not have the school places they need in September.

Where is the co-ordination on this? Where is the drive? Why are parents being left to try to sort this out? It is the Government's job to ensure every child receives an education. It is the Taoiseach's role to sort out this issue, whether it is a lack of co-ordination or a lack of drive .

Charlotte Cahill, one of the parents at the protest on Friday, summarised her experience as follows: "They designed the system so that a door closes at every opportunity." When will these doors start opening? Does the Taoiseach accept the Government is failing these families and their children? Can he guarantee that every child who needs one will have an appropriate place in school in September?

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