'Promises mean nothing without action': Parents protest as children 'locked out of education'

Deborah McCabe and David Worrell with their daughter, Indy, 10, from Malahide, Dublin at a protest by parents, familes, and friends of children without suitable school placements at the Department of Education on Marlborough St, Dublin. Picture: Gareth Chaney

Children with additional needs have been 'locked out of education' again this year, according to parents protesting outside the Department of Education on Friday.

A group led by parents whose children have not received an offer of a school place for next year staged the 24-hour sleep-out outside the department’s offices to highlight what they say is a worsening crisis in accessing special education placements.

While most parents who have come forward are based in Dublin, others are in Waterford, Cork, Limerick, Kilkenny, Dundalk, Carlow, Kildare, Wexford, Laois, Carlow, and Athlone. 

Many parents attending the protest carried with them photos of their children. 

Charlotte Cahill from Tallaght told the protest her daughter is one of 194 children who have no school place for September.

“Promises mean nothing without action,” she said. “Article 24 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities guarantees every child the right to an inclusive education. Yet here in Ireland our children are being excluded, restrained and marginalised.” 

Mothers Nicole Hosford and Leigh Arundel travelled from Cork to attend the protest.

Ms Hosford has applied to each of Cork’s six special schools for a place for her daughter, Libbycrae.

Nicole Hosford, Cork, protesting on behalf of her daughter, Libbycrae. Picture: Gareth Chaney

 

Living in Knocknaheeny, Libbycrae attends early intervention in Ballincollig. 

"She loves it but they can’t take her anymore once she turns five. She needs a school place.” 

She also brought with her a picture of her friend’s eight-year-old son Christopher, who has been out of school for two years and needs a place in a special school.

Leigh Arundel is in a similar situation to Ms Hosford. 

She does not have a school place in a special school for her daughter Bella who turns five in April. 

"We're left with nothing. She has an early intervention class this year because they can't get her in there for longer than an hour and 40 minutes." 

"The Special Educational Needs Organisers (SENO) service knows since last year she needs a special education place. 

"Come June, we don't know what we're doing." 

Also attending the protest was Deborah McCabe, Malahide, whose daughter Indy, 10, has not attended school since last November.

"I’ve been looking to get her a new school place since last year,” Ms McCabe said.

Parents, families, and friends of children during a march to the Department of Education protesting over special education needs placements. Picture: Gareth Chaney

“I’ve applied to 40 different places and we’ve been refused. I’ve applied for special classes and special schools.” 

Indy is non-verbal. “She would need specialised training within a school for people to work with her.”

“There is nowhere local. Malahide does not have a special school, and there are no classes in the primary schools. They do have special classes for dyslexia but not for autism.”

“I’ve been applying to all the special schools to be told she doesn’t meet the criteria or that there’s too many on the list. We’re just continuing to apply and getting rejection letters the whole time. Something needs to be done. The Department of Education knows these children are coming through, but nothing has been put in place.”

The Department of Education said Ministers Helen McEntee and Michael Moynihan wee "aware of the demonstration due to the understandable concern of parents in relation to school places".

Ms McEntee said: "I am determined that every child be supported to achieve their full potential within our education system and I want to reassure parents that we are doing everything possible to ensure there are enough places to meet their children's needs.

“I have met with the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) twice since being appointed Minister for Education and I have been briefed on their ongoing engagement with parents involved in this demonstration. I am also open to meeting with the parents to hear their concerns.

The Department claimed "significant progress has already been made in this area over the last five years" with a 103% increase in the number of special classes in mainstream schools (primary and post primary) and a 20% increase in the number places in special schools.