Eileen Flynn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I call for a debate on special places in education. There are still hundreds of children who have no access to special education. Every child should have a right to education but what we are seeing is that, if a child has special needs or severe autism, that right is no longer accessible to that child or the child's family. I am working with a family from rural Donegal who cannot get their child a space in the school for September. It is a serious discussion we need to have in this House. I would welcome a debate on special additional education in this country with the Minister, Deputy Foley, as soon as possible. Cherish all the children of the nation equally, but when it comes to special and additional needs, we do not do that. A child not having equal access to education should be against the law in 2025 Ireland. We should be serious about it in this House, and there is something the Minister can do about it.