Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (Kildare South, Sinn Fein)

I want to raise the crisis facing families seeking special class places in Kildare South. Cian attends St. Conleth's Infant School in Newbridge and ready to start primary school in a special class. His family applied everywhere - Newbridge, Kildare, Kilcullen and Naas - but were refused in all. Harry is 12 years old and despite his family applying to every available ASD class in the Newbridge-Kildare area, he has no suitable secondary school place. Last week, I heard the case of another young boy, 15 years of age, who has never been able to attend a secondary school. His family told KFM that they were heartbroken and felt that they had exhausted every option. The young boy himself has said he feels useless and wants to die.

These children are simply asking for the right to education alongside their peers. South Kildare is clearly and seriously underserved when it comes to ASD provision. Will the Tánaiste ensure that these young people have appropriate school places for September and will he engage with the NCSE to urgently expand capacity in south Kildare? I find it very insulting to these parents that the NCSE is out there practically boasting about the number of free spaces it has when this does not match the reality on the ground.

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