Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Despite the Government telling us for years that there was no need for a special school in County Monaghan, a sustained and dignified campaign by families of children with disabilities, which we in Sinn Féin were very proud to support, led to the announcement in the run-up to the last election that an interim special school would open. I am very pleased to say that that school has now opened but it was already clear beforehand – it has since crystallised - that additional capacity would be needed. Today, I am appealing to the Tánaiste to put the full force of the Government behind the campaign to deliver a permanent special school in Monaghan with the capacity for every child who needs it. In too many instances, we have special schools operating in interim or temporary accommodation. That has to end. We need the plans for the permanent school in Monaghan to begin right now. Will the Government promise that every child who needs a place in this special school in Monaghan actually gets one?

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