Relief for parents
There was relief in Cork yesterday for the parents of a number of children with special needs who had no school place for the next school year.
The establishment of a new special school in Rochestown was announced along with increased capacity in existing special schools in Cork to meet the needs of children and young people.
Minister for Education Norma Foley and Minister of State Josepha Madigan made the announcement which guarantees a school place for all children who have no offer of a special school place for the 2022/23 school year. However the places in the new school will only be available in early 2023.
They said the department, together with the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has been working with parents, schools, patron bodies and other stakeholders in Cork to address the current shortage of specialist school placements. The new special school will be established during the 2022/23 school year for the enrolment of children and young people with autism and complex learning needs up to 18 years of age.
It is estimated at this stage that 30 places will be required initially.
According to the department, priority will now be given to those children and young people who currently do not have an offer of a school place for next September and require the support of a special school.
Special educational needs organisers (SENOs) will work closely with the families of the children and young people concerned to assist them in accessing the new places which will become available early in 2023.
Planning for the establishment and opening of the new special school will begin immediately. This will include a determination of the size of the school required so that the necessary staff recruitment, school policy development and related arrangements can be put in train.
The new school will be located on an interim basis in Rochestown in a premises expected to become available in early 2023.
Additional special school places are also being provided in Carrigaline Community Special School (16 extra places), St Killian’s Special School, Mayfield (18 extra places) and St Gabriel’s Special School, Bishopstown where a major refurbishment project is currently underway which is expected to deliver additional places for the 2022/23 school year.
Minister Foley said: “The announcement of new provision today in Cork is a significant step forward and I am pleased that we are making real progress in meeting the needs of our young people and collaborating in new ways to ensure every child has access to a welcoming and inclusive environment to learn and flourish.
“I know that this has been a difficult period for many students and their families in Cork who have been unable to secure a suitable placement, and I am pleased that we continue to make progress in addressing this.”
Minister Madigan said demand for extra special school places has been highest in Cork and Dublin.
Sinn Féin spokesperson for Education and Cork South-Central TD, Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire, has welcomed the news but added: “The Minister appeared to suggest that the premises in Rochestown would not be ready until early 2023, indeed that the school places may not be available until then either.
“It is key that the Minister finds temporary school places and/or temporary accommodation for the 30 children who will attend Rochestown Special School. These children cannot be left in limbo between September and early 2023; a temporary solution must be found until the premises are ready to ensure they can continue with their education.”