Parents and children in Laois are enduring a harrowing experience at the moment as they struggle to cope with the ongoing shortage of enrolment places in secondary schools.
That is according to Independent councillor Tommy Mulligan, who asked Laois County Council to “acknowledge the acute shortage of enrolment places in Portlaoise Secondary Schools for children with special needs.”
Speaking at the October meeting of the Portlaoise Municipal District this week, Cllr Mulligan asked that a meeting be sought with the Minister of Education “to address this urgent issue and alleviate these concerns”
Cllr Mulligan said: “There are numerous parents in Portlaoise and the surrounding area who experiencing and enduring a harrowing situation, not knowing where their children will be attending secondary school in September 2025.
“The reality is, many of our most vulnerable children have been forgotten about by our educational planners over the last number of years.
“Due to a lack of foresight, no joined-up thinking and poor planning, adequate ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) units have not been provided for secondary schools.
“Our most vulnerable children don’t even know if they’ll have a secondary school to attend in eleven month’s time.”
Cllr Mulligan gave the following figures:
- Seven children graduating from the ASD unit in Scoil Bhríde;
- Four children graduating from the ASD unit in Holy Family;
- Two children graduating from the ASD unit in Educate Together;
- Two places at each ASD unit available in Portlaoise CBS and Scoil Chríost Rí;
- Zero places at either ASD unit available in Portlaoise College or Dunamase College.
These figures leave a shortfall of nine places, with 13 children vying for just four places.
“We have a chronic shortage of post-priary places for the students due to complete primary school at the end of this academic year,” Cllr Mulligan said.
“These children have once again been failed and let down by the system. Where are the children going to go?
“These children have been in ASD units since junior infants; they’ve never been fully integrated or fully exposed to mainstream education. It would be a completely overwhelming if theses families were forced into mainstream.”
Mr Paul McLoughlin Acting Director of Services said a letter will be issued to the Minister of Education, Norma Foley.
Next, Cllr Mulligan asked that Laois County Council install “handrails or alternative safety measures” on the footpath under the railway bridge on the Mountrath Road, Portlaoise.
Mr Wes Wilkinson, Senior Executive Engineer at the Portlaoise Municipal District’s Roads Office, said: “A topographical survey was undertaken in the vicinity of the railway bridge on the Mountrath Road to examine the opportunity to widen the footpaths at this location.
“The Portlaoise MD Office is arranging to meet with Irish Rail in the coming weeks to discuss the topographical survey and explore options to improve the safety of pedestrians using the footpaths under the railway bridge.”
Mr Wilkinson added that the installation of handrails would make the footpath smaller and therefore potentially inaccessible for wheelchairs, buggies and prams.
But Cllr Mulligan reiterated that increased traffic and increased footfall on that road made in necessary to improve safety measures.
Finally, the Independent councillor called for the removal a section of a ditch at Pallas Big, which he said is “obstructing the sight lines” of residents and motorists on the road.
Mr Wilkinson again responded, saying the Roads Office “will include this location as an application for funding for Roads Safety Improvement works for 2025.”
SEE ALSO – Pressure mounts on Bord na Mona to develop cycle and walkway in Portlaoise
