Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)

The Taoiseach's Government promised 12 families that they would have places in the school last September. All those children are sitting at home or doing another year in preschool because Government failed to deliver. All that is needed are modular buildings but we have to be honest here: this is linked to chronic underinvestment in the public sector and to the housing crisis. We cannot get therapists. It is great that the Government has increased the places but most of these people are leaving the public sector or emigrating. We cannot get teachers either - I know teachers failed to live up to the Government's expectations by rejecting the latest plan for the leaving certificate - and especially not in special education, where people are not trained or resourced. Will the Taoiseach guarantee that there will be a school place for every child who needs one in September?

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