Louth's Ó Murchú calls on Government to deliver for children with special needs

Parents of young people with special needs “just want to be parents and want the government to deliver for their children”, Louth TD Ruairí Ó Murchú has said.

The Sinn Féin spokesperson on disabilities was speaking during a debate tabled by his party during the first day’s sitting of the Dáil last week after the summer recess which focused on special education school places.

Deputy Ó Murchú said a “real conversation” was needed about the numbers waiting for a place so that the issue can be properly addressed and used his speaking time to highlight issues in Louth related to special education.

He said: “It is all well and good talking about a single point of application but we know that this is only going to be piloted in a number of schools next year.

“We welcome the fact that in October people will be able to make their child’s information to the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to allow a greater lead-in time.

“We also accept that all that information should be available, particularly for kids going into secondary school. It is not that they dropped from Mars. These kids are known about.”

Deputy Ó Murchú continued: “I brought up the issue of Rampark National School earlier. It relates to a child who does not have an SNA and who is severely impaired visually.

“Teachers and others are speaking about the health and safety issue that has arisen. They came from a childcare setting where they have a greater level of supervision and protection. They are now in the class.

“The school is actually saying at this stage there are health and safety issues. The child has tripped and there are issues relating to bones.”

The Sinn Féin TD concluded by saying: “The fact is we do this every year. We do the exact same thing. We need a solution because it is not right to have these parents having to go through the trauma of this and then to show up here and to be advocates. They just want to be parents and they want this Government to deliver for their children. Sin é”.