2026-03-19

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.

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter, which I am answering on behalf of the Minister for Education and Youth, Deputy Naughton. Just like the previous Deputy, I hear the passion in his voice and local knowledge, as well as his understanding of what is at issue for the many families and children there. I guarantee that I will bring it to the attention of the Minister. Aside from that, the Government is committed to the provision of additional special places for children with special educational needs. Budget 2026 secured funding for 3,000 new specialist places in special schools and special classes, and the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, is currently examining where these places are best located for the 2026-27 school year. Over 2,700 new places were provided in the 2025-26 school year, meaning there are now 3,741 special classes nationwide. We will continue to build on this figure while placing provision in locations where it is best placed to meet existing and future demand. As the Deputy is aware, an earlier notification deadline was introduced this year to support forward planning and to earlier equip the NCSE with local information as to what students would be leaving school or transitioning to post-primary specialist places or regarding those seeking specialist placement and entering the education system for the first time. This information is critical when examining where provision needs to be placed to meet demand. The Department and the NCSE continue to work closely with school patron bodies, school management bodies and schools to confirm new special classes for the next school year 2026-27. The NCSE began sanctioning new special classes last month, which is several months earlier than last year. A total of 387 have been sanctioned to date and many more new special classes will be confirmed in the coming weeks. A total of 85 of these new classes are being provided in County Dublin, and six of them are in the Dublin North-West constituency. As for the modular project for Finglas Parochial National School, the application for planning permission was submitted and the local authority requested further information, which was submitted to them in January 2026. The local authority has recently requested clarification on the further information submission, and I can say this is being submitted to them today. As I said, I hear what the Deputy has said about the huge challenge this presents for parents and families and perhaps, the knowledge that at least this level of progress has been made may be of some assistance to them. The project itself will be delivered as quickly as possible after receipt of planning permission, and with the support of project managers. The earlier sanction of new classes provides clarity for parents and allows schools more time for the planning and establishment of new special classes. As I said, budget 2026 has provided significant funding for over 400 new special classes. I wish to stress that the NCSE will continue to support all children made known to it after this date. However, it is important for planning purposes that an earlier timeframe is worked to in which the NCSE has as much local knowledge and detail as possible in order to plan what new provision is required.

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.

I thank the Deputy again for raising the question and giving me the opportunity to reassure the House that the Department of Education and Youth and the NCSE are committed to ensuring that all children can access an education suitable to their needs. The Department continues to engage intensively with the NCSE in regard to the forward planning for new special provision to ensure every child has a place in an educational setting best suited to their educational needs. It is important to remember that the vast majority of students with special educational needs are supported to attend school in mainstream classes with their peers. Central to this are the 15,000 special education teachers and 12,500 special needs assistants allocated to mainstream settings. For children with more complex needs, special classes or special school places are provided. This is in keeping with the policy on inclusive education, which provides that children will be supported to receive an education in the most inclusive setting possible. In County Dublin, 705 special classes are now in operation, providing capacity for 4,230 students, and that includes 103 new special classes for this school year. I hear what the Deputy is saying. He is concerned about a specific school and the needs of the students and families there. I fully understand that. Hopefully, based on the information that I gave earlier, the further clarification that had been requested by the local authority was submitted to it today. Although I do not know, I hope that speeds up the process for the delivery of this project. I am sure the Deputy has already been in contact with the Minister with regard to the need for a meeting.