'Looming crisis' as potential for hundreds of special school places missing for September

Dáil Public Accounts Committee heard that there will not be enough special school places to meet demand at start of new school year. Stock picture: Dave Thompson/PA 

There are not enough special school places planned to meet the “substantially increased needs” for this September in what is being described as the next “looming crisis” in education.

As fallout from the controversy over special needs assistants (SNAs) continued this week, the Dáil heard fears that hundreds of students may be denied an appropriate school place for the upcoming school year.