200 special classes short for September – parents abandoned by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil
200 special classes short for September - parents abandoned by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil - The Labour Party
- 45 special classes announced today, 400 classes budgeted for and 600 required
- Kenny to question Department officials in PAC tomorrow
- Centralised application system needed
Labour’s education spokesperson Eoghan Kenny TD has urged the Taoiseach to bring forward information on how the 600 special education classes required will be funded.
Following the announcement of 45 new special classes for the forthcoming school year, Deputy Kenny queried why only 400 classes have been budgeted for, when 600 are required.
Deputy Kenny said:
“What has been announced today represents a drop in the ocean when compared to the real need that’s out there. This Government has only budgeted for 400 special education classes for the 26/27 school year, yet 600 places are needed.
“Government leaders have know about this need since November. Yet here we are in April and nothing has happened since.
“Two months ago, a memo was due to be sent to Cabinet to outline how this would be dealt with, to provide clarity to parents. Two months on, there is no word from Government on the matter.
“Parents of children with special education needs have been abandoned by Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil. Parents are left battling with the State, phoning schools across their county in a desperate attempt to get a school place for their child. Many are left to languish on a waiting list for a place for months with zero clarity for their child’s future.
“What way is this to run a country? What message does this send to parents nationwide? Government is lurching from one crisis to another when it comes to special education while school communities are struggling to keep up with the level of demand for supports in education.
“For months, the Labour Party has called for a centralised system to the NCSE so that the State can have a clear picture of how many children need places, what type of places they need and where those places should be delivered. This would also take the enormous administrative burden off of parents who are left fighting for school places year in, year out.
“Tomorrow members of the Department of Education will present themselves to the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee where I will be questioning them on what plans are currently in place to provide every child with an appropriate school place.
“In 2026, this really should not be that complicated. We cannot allow children and families to enter into another summer of brinkmanship with this Government.”