Taoiseach rejects claim that Government 'does not care' for children with additional needs 

Cian O'Callaghan said the relentless fight faced by parents to try and get their child a place in a classroom is driving them to the brink

The relentless fight faced by parents to try and get their child a place in a classroom is driving them to the brink, Cian O'Callaghan told the Dáil on Tuesday. Picture: Larry Cummins

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has rejected the suggestion that the Government "does not care enough" to provide appropriate school places for children with additional needs.

Social Democrats deputy leader Cian O'Callaghan put it to Mr Martin that successive governments have consciously failed these children, saying: "The State either does not care enough to provide appropriate school places or it lacks the competence to do so".

Mr O'Callaghan was speaking after the Irish Examiner reported that a group of families have initiated legal proceedings against the State to secure appropriate school places for their children.

The relentless fight faced by parents to try and get their child a place in a classroom is driving them to the brink, he told the Dáil on Tuesday.

Raising the case of one mother involved in the legal action whose eight-year-old child has never been to school, Mr O'Callaghan read part of her sworn High Court statement to the Dáil.

The sad truth is that if I never sent [her son] to school, nobody would know and nobody would care.

Addressing Mr Martin, the Dublin TD said: "The really awful thing is that this mother is right".

Mr O'Callaghan said no parent should have to take legal action to vindicate their child's right to an education.

Mr Martin was asked whether the State would be fighting the cases taken by parents and families.

The Fianna Fáil leader said "no effort will be spared to make sure everyone gets a place rather than having people seeking to vindicate their rights through the courts".

"We are planning a substantial number of school places for this year. About 3,900 places will be available for about 3,275 students known to the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, who are seeking special classes and special school places, through additional capacity," said Mr Martin.

However, Mr Martin acknowledged there are logistical issues in terms of getting sanctioned special classes up and running before September but said the issue is being given "intense attention" by the Government.

"There is a world of difference between a sanctioned classroom and a classroom that will actually open in September," said Mr O'Callaghan. "A child cannot go to school in a classroom that is just sanctioned."