Lack of full-time places for 9 pupils ‘unacceptable’

THE Department of Education says it is unacceptable that a Cork special needs school will not offer full-time classes to nine children for whom teaching and other staff have been provided.

The families of the children with severe autism or profound disabilities are still waiting for a solution to the situation at 38-pupil St Gabriel’s Special School in Bishopstown, where they were due to start last week.

The school told them it could provide five days of teaching a fortnight because of staff being withdrawn by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).