Special education places must be delivered by September 2025 and must be adequately resourced – Darren O’Rourke TD

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Education and Youth, Darren O’Rourke TD, has said that government commitments to ‘sanction’ adequate special education places ‘in a timely manner’ do not go far enough.  Instead, he says, special education places must be delivered by September 2025 and must be adequately resourced in terms of buildings, teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs).

Speaking in the Dáil today on a motion on Special Education, Teachta O’Rourke said:

“In September 2024, 126 children with special educational needs had no place at the start of the school year.  We cannot have another repeat of this.  

“The government must ensure that sufficient and appropriate special education capacity is delivered by September 2025 and adequately resourced – this, particularly as it relates to buildings, teachers and SNAs.

“The government must take into account the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) call for funding for the full equipping of special classrooms and ancillary sensory and play spaces to be guaranteed and made available before a special class is established, rather than having the added pressures of establishing a class and hoping that funding for resources will come through.

“The Minister must also take clear account of the underlying causes of the recruitment and retention crisis in education.  Special Education Teachers need adequate training and support right throughout their careers, not just during their college years.  They also need pay parity and need to be able to afford a roof over their head!

“SNAs too, need recognition and respect.  The Minister would do well to heed the call for pension parity and for reform of the assault leave circular.  She should act on both fronts as a matter of priority.

“There are deep concerns in school communities across the state, and amongst parents and children anxiously waiting for an offer of a school place, that there will not be adequate SNA support.

“There are no numerous examples of exceptional reviews resulting in SNA reductions, of a failure to deliver on committed SNA increases and even, in my own constituency, SNA support being removed from children despite no change in care needs.

“The arbitrary SNA ‘cap’ and the new interpretation of departmental circulars relating to primary and secondary care needs, must stop.  Children with special educational needs must be provided with adequate supports to enable them to reach their full potential.”