Parents of children with special needs to stage second sleep-out over lack of school places
Parents protest outside the Department of Education in February over lack of school places for their children. Picture: Sam Boal/Collins Photos
Parents are to stage another 24-hour sleep out, this time outside Leinster House, in an effort to draw urgent attention to what they describe as an ongoing crisis in special education.
A group of more than 200 parents of children who are without appropriate school places will stage the protest on Wednesday to coincide with World Autism Awareness Day.
The move follows a recent meeting between parents and minister for education Helen McEntee, minister of state for special education Michael Moynihanm and chief executive of the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) John Kearney.
According to those attending, both ministers reiterated their intention that all children would have “an offer of a school place for September”, but stopped short of a guarantee.
In a statement, the parents said their group remains concerned following the meeting.
The NCSE also confirmed it did not have an official figure of children without school places, according to the parents.
Mr Kearney confirmed there was no mechanism in place to track children currently in inappropriate school settings.
“When I read a recent list of new classes, I was so upset,” said one parent.
“I noticed several listed had been sanctioned in 2024 but had never opened. I am tired of having my hopes dashed. My child deserves to start school like any other child.”
Parents say the protest is aiming to shine a light on the shortage of suitable school places for all children.
The group is urging the Department of Education to implement immediate measures to address gaps in support.
The protest is also aiming to demand transparency and accountability in the allocation of resources to special education, and to engage with all stakeholders in an effort to streamline and enhance processes such as admissions.
The sleep-out will continue for 24 hours, with parents remaining at Leinster House overnight. It is the second such national protest organised in recent weeks, following a 24-hour sleep-out outside the Department of Education.
