Government 'not in a position' to confirm children with additional needs will have school place this year

Tánaiste Simon Harris said the Government was 'working absolutely around the clock to make sure no child will be prevented from starting school'

Labour’s education spokesperson Eoghan Kenny told Tánaiste Simon Harris many families were still in limbo, with no clarity about whether their children will have a school place in the next academic year. 

The State is “not in a position to say that resources will fully match demand” for school spaces for children with additional needs, the Dáil has heard.

During leaders’ questions, Labour’s education spokesperson Eoghan Kenny told Tánaiste Simon Harris many families were still in limbo, with no clarity about whether their children will have a school place in the next academic year. 

Mr Harris insisted the Government would “work to make sure that every child” with additional needs would be able to start school in September but warned what is considered “appropriate” is based on the “best information available at the time”.

The Government was criticised last month after letters were sent by the National Council of Special Education (NCSE) to schools advising them their special needs assistant (SNA) allocations would be cut for the new academic year.

Following a backlash, the Government was forced to U-turn and confirm no school would lose SNAs in September, in a move that cost €19m.

In the Dáil, Mr Kenny repeatedly asked the Tánaiste to confirm that all children with additional needs would have an appropriate school place for the new school year.

He also noted he quizzed Department of Education officials on this subject at the Public Accounts Committee three weeks ago.

“When I asked whether the Government was aware of the situation, I was told clearly that leaders of the Government are aware that there is a substantially increased need coming,” he said.

“Awareness of need is one thing. The real issue is whether resources match that need. Despite repeated questioning, the answer was clear. The analysis is still ongoing to ensure that the State can meet that need.

“In other words, we are not yet in a position as a State to say that resources will fully match demand. This is not just about growth. This is about the gap between rights and resources.”

Mr Harris said the Government was “working absolutely around the clock to make sure no child will be prevented from starting school, and to make sure every support possible is in place and can be in place”.

He said: “We are seeing a very significant increase in need.”

Mr Harris argued the Department of Education had made a “real effort to try and get somewhat ahead of it” by opening a portal to allow parents to contact the NCSE to notify them of children with additional needs.

However, he noted a “significant number of additional children came forward”.

When Mr Kenny pushed the Tánaiste again on whether all children would have an appropriate school place from September, he said there would be efforts to ensure they did.

He added: “Our absolute commitment is to work to make sure that every child that is due to start school in September, can start school in September with the maximum levels of support possible... We will certainly be working to open more classes."