I thank the Minister of State for attending. I understand the NCSE is attempting address the crisis we have for places in special classes, and I know it is acting quickly. However, the way it has acted in the context of St. Mochta’s is not the right solution. St. Mochta’s has agreed to open two special classes - two ASD classes - in September for 12 students. It currently has six students on its books attending the school, each of whom is known to the NCSE. They also have letters with the clear recommendation they should be in an ASD class attached to a mainstream school. The school has now been allocated 11 students – every one of those deserves a place as well – but if the six students who are in St. Mochta’s have to wait until those 11 students have moved on through the system, they will never receive a place in a special class in St. Mochta’s because the new students are all across the age groups. They are from junior infants all the way up to fourth class. The 12 new students - the students St. Mochta’s has given the names for – are junior infants and senior infants students. They are just starting their time in St. Mochta’s. Every child in Dublin 15 deserves an appropriate place in the right school. We can address and fix this in St. Mochta’s. It is important that the Department and the NCSE engage with the school and resolve this.
Sentiment score: 0.16
I noticed that in the Minister of State’s reply, there is a focus on the 1 February deadline. As colleagues have said, there were no plans to open an ASD class in St. Mochta’s on 1 February and the only agreement on that opening came in April. In April, when the school did agree to open these two classes, it received a verbal agreement that the deadline would be waived for the six children who were in St. Mochta’s. A commitment was given and that commitment has to be realised and fulfilled. I am glad a meeting is taking place. There is now an opportunity to make sure that the six children in St. Mochta’s are able to avail of an appropriate school place and get the support they deserve within the school.
Sentiment score: 0.49