Schools who want to open special classes not being given the chance – Kenny
- Bweeng National School in Co Cork a prime example
Labour Party TD for Cork North Central and Party spokesperson on Education has criticised the Department of Education today for not sanctioning special classes to schools where there is willingness and classroom availability.
Deputy Kenny said:
“A number of schools have contacted me to express their concerns that they are not being afforded the opportunity to open a special class, even though they have requested the sanctioning.
“Bweeng National School in Co Cork wrote to the NCSE in September 2024 asking them to sanction a second special class.
“They have the willingness of teachers and have a fully fitted classroom ready to go. Despite this, they have clearly been told it is not feasible.
“It seems to me that the number one stumbling block is the fact that the Department are not willing to staff the classroom. It all comes back to money.
“We have parents marching the streets, we have waiting lists of 30/40 students long, we have children not knowing whether they will have a school place or not for September, but Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael are not willing to open as many special classes as possible.
“Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael own the purse strings on this problem. Despite ample lip service, Bweeng National School is a prime example of this government failing our children.
“I am calling on the Minister to inform the school why they are not being sanctioned a second special class but, most importantly, why is the Minister not opening a class in every school where there is a willingness and a need.
“It just doesn’t make sense. If this government are willing to fail children, children with additional needs who need the comfort of a special class within their locality, then shame on them. I will continue fighting for these children.
“For too long, this government have failed to adequately plan for this demand, have failed on their delivery of special classrooms and continued with their weak commitment to staffing our classes, to give every child across the country the same right to education.”
