I want to raise the issue of children in my constituency who are currently attending the Finglas Parochial National School. These children have additional needs and should be prioritised and yet do not have the classes they were promised and for which the school was sanctioned in 2024. These children are spending two hours a day in a community hall and this is not good enough. These children should be in classrooms receiving the education they have a constitutional right to and which they need. I was at a public meeting in Finglas last night where the parents again outlined the devastating impact of their children not getting the full education they need, as well as their despair and concern because the promised delivery to the school could now be in 2027. This is an absolutely unacceptable delay in terms of delivery of that classroom. Can the Minister of State outline what is going to be done in this regard? It appears, from talking to different groups involved and in speaking directly to the building unit of the Department of education today, that there has been a failure in ensuring timely delivery, planning and information. Moreover, it seems to have fallen between the Department and the company that was taken on to deliver this. Regardless, the responsibility to ensure these children have the education to which they have a constitutional right falls with the Department. It is the Department of education and the Minister who is responsible in ensuring they get that education. To give some examples of what the parents spoke about last night and in the media about how challenging it is, one parent, Rebekah Clarke, said that she had to reduce her hours to try to manage her son Arlo's shorter school day. She said: I had to come down to part-time and I have to work a weekend day so I can bring him to school. We've had to change our life dramatically, trying to find someone to mind him. It's not easy. Parents explained how they thought that school place for their child would provide the relief they need but we also heard from other parents on that. For two hours a day, they have to come over and travel to leave the child. They literally walk around Finglas to then pick up the child again within a couple of hours. People are losing their jobs. In those two hours, the children are getting incredible care from the school principal, teachers and the school. They do not want to have to try to find somewhere else now. The children have made relationships with the teachers. Children with autism and additional needs need routine. They need that bond and relationship they build over time and they have that. Why, in God's name, are we not ensuring these children are in proper classrooms by this September? Surely, the Department and Minister can guarantee that. There is no reason why not; it is still months away. As regards planning, this needs to go through. They will and should get it for the modular classes. I have spoken to the building unit. It is saying that it will hopefully be quarter 3 of this year when that will be delivered. We need a guarantee that these children will be in the classrooms in the buildings to be built in September this year.

Sentiment score: 0.00

I thank the Minister of State. I reiterate that it is absolutely unacceptable that children are left for two hours a day - this is their education – in a community hall. The teachers have to re-set up every time. They do not have the proper toileting or sensory spaces. These are not appropriate school places. It is unfair. As one parent said last night, it is cruel for the Department and NCSE to be sanctioning and allocating school places that then are not actually being delivered. There is a real issue here. It is leading parents up the garden path. They are putting their lives on hold and taking places that then do not appear. It is unfair and not right. These parents need to have that building delivered, particularly given what has happened with the delays. I commend the Equality in Education campaign, the school principal, the teachers and the parents who have spoken out in the media this week to highlight this. It was deeply unfair that they had to speak out. It puts more pressure on parents who are already struggling, but they were right to speak up. Again, this has put pressure on, and it is making it a priority. I am making it a priority by saying here very clearly that I will not be letting this go. I will be pushing as hard as I can to ensure that the Department ensures that the school building is done and in place for this September, so those children have the education they deserve and need. These children, along with all children, need it. The fact that they are left there like this is wrong. The parents have asked for a meeting to be held within a week with the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, the school, the company and the planners to set out not only that the planning is done, but that this school is delivered on time. It cannot be delayed any more.

Sentiment score: -0.07