‘Schools shouldn’t be forced into classes for special needs pupils’

Schools that are forced to enrol children with special needs might not be the best places for them, a special education expert has said.

The difficulties facing many children finding school places, particularly when they are moving to second level, was raised by Breda Corr at an Oireachtas education committee hearing last week during a discussion on Minister Richard Bruton’s School Admissions Bill.

As general secretary of the National Association of Boards of Management in Special Education, she told TDs and senators there are pockets of the country where the provision of special classes in second-level schools was very poor.