'No school should be refusing a child on the basis of the child having a special need', Taoiseach says

Sheila Casey Jones with her 12-year-old son Patrick at their Newmarket, Co Cork home. Sheila has contacted schools as far away as Donegal to try to find a place for Patrick. Picture: Dan Linehan

The Taoiseach has admitted it is "wrong" parents must act as project managers to try to get a special school place for their child.

Micheál Martin said "no school should be refusing a child on the basis of the child having a special need". However, he defended the Government on the issue, saying three new schools have been opened in Cork alone in recent years.

It comes as parents prepare to protest in Cork this weekend to draw urgent attention to the ongoing crisis in special education.

Raising the case of a North Cork mother who first spoke to the Irish Examiner, Social Democrats acting leader Cian O'Callaghan said: "The crisis in special education is simply getting worse under the Taoiseach's watch. There are now hundreds of parents who do not know if their child will have a school place in September.

"One mother in North Cork, Sheila Casey Jones, told the Examiner her son Patrick has received 29 rejections for a school place. The situation is now so desperate that Sheila is contacting schools as far away as Laois, Kilkenny and Donegal to find a place."

Mr O'Callaghan said parents had now become project managers in trying to source school places, and asked the Taoiseach how his Government had let a situation like this happen.

Mr Martin said: "It is wrong that parents must be the proactive person in securing a place for their child. I believe the State should be doing that. The National Council for Special Education should have a proactive role in both identifying the demand and need, and then agreeing the proper placement for a child."

He said he was aware of Ms Casey Jones' case and that of her son Patrick, but insisted that funding was not an issue.

"In Cork alone, we now have about 16 special schools and Cork University Hospital School educating 1,000 children in the Cork area. Three of those schools were only established in the past two to three years: Carrigaline, Rochestown and East Cork Community Special Schools."

He said another school had been earmarked in the north city area but he was awaiting further detail on it.

"We have legislation which can compel schools to act. The approach has always been to persuade schools and bring people with you so that the ethos and spirit is correct in facilitating special needs education."

Labour leader Ivana Bacik said she had heard harrowing stories of experiences from desperate parents who are frustrated and in despair following the battle they had on behalf of their children.

"A child's right to education is protected by the Constitution, but at least 118 children with additional needs have not received an offer of a school place anywhere this year. 

"We know many more have had to take up inappropriate places or be bused out of their communities because there is nowhere local to go," she said.