MORE than 100 parents and children took their fight for special school spaces to the Department of Education today.
And one frustrated mum warned: “We do not want our children to become the next scandal that needs a State apology in years to come.”
Families set up camp outside the Department HQ in Dublin as part of a 24-hour campaign to demand more special schools spaces around the country.
Furious mums and dads told how they have applied to dozens of schools across the country in a bid to get their child with additional needs a place only to be met with rejection after rejection.
Erica Boyce from Adamstown in Dublin has got rejection letters from 12 schools as she hunts for a place for her little boy Marley, who has Down Syndrome and is autistic.
She told the Irish Sun: “Any school we apply for is just getting refused. Everywhere is full. They just keep telling us there is no more room.
“If he doesn’t get a place in a school he will fall behind rapidly. His needs won’t be met.
“There’s no point in going to mainstream school because he won’t get his needs met. He’s non-verbal. He needs a school that can help him.”
More than 100 families from across the country gathered on O’Connell Street for the protest and marched to the Department of Education where they set up camp for the night.
Dubliner Charlotte Cahill – who has received 25 letter rejections from schools as she looks for a place for her daughter Cyra – told the protest: “Why is Ireland standing still? Why are they watching as our children are failed?
“Education is not a privilege. It is a right. The Government has a statutory duty to protect your rights under the Constitution and international laws.
“But instead of solutions we’re left with delays, excuses, neglect and broken promises.
“Let me be clear. We do not want to hear another State apology years from now for the neglect of our children.
Families travelled from across the country for the protest with some coming to Dublin from Cork and Waterford.
Rebecca Meehan from Dungarvan is fighting for a place for her five year old son Jay.
Taoiseach Micheal Martin recently promised to help get her son a school place after her interview with the Irish Sun was raised in the Dail.
MESSAGE TO MINISTER
Speaking at the protest, Rebecca said: “The message the Minister of Education needs to hear is that September 2025 is coming fast and we want our children in schools.
“Our children deserve the right to an education. It is absolutely imperative that any commitments the Government makes on school spaces comes to fruition for September.
“My child will not miss a day of his education.”
Sarah Hennessy is searching for a school place for her son Freddie, five, who is autistic and non-verbal.
The family has already received rejection letters from 20 schools so far this year.
‘SO WORRIED’
Sarah told the Irish Sun: “It is absolutely devastating. We’re just so worried.
“Myself and my husband since the day Freddie was born we have had to fight for him.
“Freddie is my only child so this is my only experience that I’ve had as a mother to fight and I really didn’t think I had to fight for the basic right to an education.
“I know there are schools that are willing to open more classes but they are lacking the funding so I would love to see the Government give them the money.
“Look at the amount of families here. There’s so many children in the same position as my son and they need help.”
‘JUST WANT CHILD IN SCHOOL’
Anita Daynes from Dublin brought her son Leighton to the protest as she fights to get him a place in a special school.
She told the Irish Sun: “Where is all the funding they are telling us they have?
“You hear about increasing funding by this percentage and that percentage – I really don’t care about percentages, I just want to get my child into a school.”
Several politicians attended the protest today, including People Before Profit’s Richard Boyd Barrett and Social Democrats TD Gary Gannon.
In a statement to the Irish Sun, Minister for Education Helen McEntee said she is doing everything possible to ensure every child gets a school place by this September.
She said: “I am determined that every child be supported to achieve their full potential within our education system and I want to reassure parents that we are doing everything possible to ensure there are enough places to meet their children’s needs.”
The Minister said she is open to meeting parents to hear their concerns and has spoken to some parents involved in today’s protest.
Some 218 new special classes were sanctioned by the National Council for Special Education this week with the Minister claiming more will follow “imminently”.
