John Cummins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Niall Collins, for taking this matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Norma Foley, and the Minister of State, Deputy Josepha Madigan. This topic is of the utmost importance to parents and students with additional needs in Tramore and the surrounding areas of County Waterford. The built-up area of Tramore has a population of over 10,000 and its immediate hinterland a further 2,000 as per census 2022. There are four primary schools in the town: Tramore Educate Together National School, Gaelscoil Philib Barún, Holy Cross National School and Glór na Mara National School. Unfortunately, only one of them, Tramore Educate Together National School, has two ASD classrooms. Despite the fact that two further schools in the wider catchment area, Fenor National School and Ballyduff National School, have five ASD classrooms between them, there simply is not sufficient space to meet the huge demand for special school places in the Tramore area.

To put that in context, there are more special classes in New Ross, which has six classes for a population of 7,000, than in Tramore, which has two classes despite having a population that is 3,000 higher. I say that not to pit one area against the other - I am sure those six classes and probably more are needed in the New Ross area - but to emphasise that the provision of special class places in Tramore is wholly inadequate, especially as it is an area with a young and growing population.

In making my remarks, it is important to say that I come from a teaching background, so anything I say is first-hand information, not second-hand or third-hand information. It is based on my lived experience of teaching students with additional needs, which I did up to my election to Seanad Éireann in 2020. The integration of ASD classes within mainstream primary and secondary settings is something that works, and something I strongly believe in. Not only does it work for the student with additional needs, which of course is the most important thing, but it also works for the wider mainstream school population by creating that knowledge, understanding and empathy for those who have additional needs. It is a life skill in itself. I have seen some of the toughest lads in a class have a knowledge, a compassion and an awareness of students with additional needs that I never had when I was in school because we simply were not taught what things like ASD were.

That underscores the importance of the integration that is happening in our school communities across the country. If we want to see that wider integration in our society and an understanding in later life, we have to start with our youngest kids. I firmly believe we are on the right track but we need to address deficits where they exist, and Tramore is certainly one of those areas.

Distraught parents have been in contact with me in recent months who do not have a place for their son or daughter for September. It is an untenable position that we would say to parents that it is okay for them to send one of their children to a school but they cannot send the other child to that school because there is no ASD place, and they have to find an alternative place in Waterford city or somewhere else, at best, or look at home tuition. That is not an acceptable position. I believe every school in this country, both primary and secondary, should have at least one ASD classroom attached to it. We had three such classes in the school I taught in. I have served on the board of management of that school. I think that one of the best decisions we made was to provide ASD classrooms because there are only upsides to that.

My question is this: are there plans for additional special classes in Tramore come September, and if there are not, is it the intention of the Minister and the Department to utilise section 37A to ensure that those necessary places are put in place for students with additional needs?