There is a deepening crisis in the provision of educational facilities for those with special needs. This is compounded by a crisis in both teacher recruitment and retention, particularly in Dublin, which is one of the most severely affected areas in the country. The most vulnerable students are impacted the most, especially when schools are unable to fill teaching positions. Special education teachers are moved from support roles to teaching mainstream classes. Additionally, the lack of sufficient funding for additional special needs classes means there will be a significant shortfall in such classes come September. Every year, my office receives representations on behalf of parents who are seeking to place their children in a special needs class. Christian, a young boy in my constituency, will be seven this year. His mother, Holly, has been struggling in recent years to find a place for him in a school that would provide the educational supports he needs. She is at her wit’s end as yet again she has no confirmed school place for him for the coming September. Christian has significant additional needs and has been recommended for a special school placement. Holly is a single parent with four children. She has made multiple applications to schools that could provide Christian with the supports he needs. However, to date, he has not been offered a place, leaving him without access to an education, which is his right. This has been deeply frustrating for both Holly and Christian. Having exhausted all avenues, parents like Holly feel isolated, forgotten and ignored. My constituency has also experienced unacceptable delays in the construction of urgently needed ASD units and special needs classes. It is very distressing for parents who expected that a special class or ASD unit would be open for the new school year to be told they have to wait another year before construction ever begins. To make a serious impact in Dublin North-West, resources and funding need to be sped up. The delivery of these badly needed facilities that are long outstanding needs to be sped up.

Sentiment score: -0.03