Thomas Gould (Cork North-Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Parents in Cork were promised in 2022 that a new special school would be delivered in Carrignavar. Three years later, and only because of the campaign led by parents whose children will have no school place this August, and those parents campaigning and sleeping outside the doors of the Dáil, has the Government finally acted. Now there is work being done. Does the Minister know what was not done? There is no capacity for water treatment. Since 2013, Carrignavar has had no capacity. We are talking about putting a special school in. We are doing up an old primary school building that is available, but we have no water treatment. In the meantime, as the Minister knows, children are being bused or taxied from Knocknaheeny down to Fermoy, as they will be in August. That is the bones of an hour's drive. These are children with additional needs, children with autism. They are going to spend their lives driving in cars. I raised the case of a woman in the Dáil over a year ago whose child is leaving the northside to go to Carrigaline. Nine hours the child is on the go, at six years old, between the car, the school and the car back. Nine hours is longer than a day's work and that is what the Government is giving these children and families. Many other families will have nowhere in August.

The Ministers have come in here and opposed the Labour Party's motion. Why would they oppose it? This is an honest to goodness attempt to give every child their rights. This is about rights. Every child has a right to an education. No child should be discriminated against because he or she has additional needs. That is what the Government is doing, either blocking them from education or sending them on spins for hours on end. It is a disgrace. The Government should withdraw its objection to the motion.

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