Special needs resourcing must catch up with forecasting, says Ombudsman

'The concept seems to be that we can provide you with something, or you can have nothing,' said the Ombudsman for Children Dr Niall Muldoon. Picture: Maxwells

The Ombudsman for Children has said planning and resourcing of special education places needs to catch up with forecasting after a report by his office highlighted serious shortcomings around the country.

Dr Niall Muldoon said the Department of Education had improved its spending in the area of special education in recent years, yet gaps still remained — particularly when it came from the move from primary to second-level.