The plight of a special needs school in Laois has garnered national attention once again, with representatives from the county raising the matter in both the Dáil and the Seanad this week.
Independent Republican TD Brian Stanley and Sinn Féin Senator Maria McCormack each broached the subject of St Francis Special School in Portlaoise.
Addressing An Taoiseach Micheál Martin directly, Deputy Stanley said:
“There is a big commitment in the programme for Government regarding special schools and increasing places. We all welcome this but it must be more than aspirations.
“St Francis School is a relatively new facility but it was too small the day it was built.
“There are children going there from all over Laois and the school is in urgent need of extra space.
“There are nine children due to leave the school this year but there are 45 children waiting to get in, and this number is increasing.”
Deputy Stanley said the four extra classrooms granted to the school “will take time” to be built, saying the process “must go through several hoops and stages.”
The Laois TD said that two modular buildings would provide “an immediate solution” while waiting for the new builds to be finalised.
In response, the Taoiseach said he would “bring this to the attention” of Minister for Education Helen McEntee and Minister of State for Special Education Michael Moynihan.
Deputy Martin said that both Ministers are “working flat out” to find “solutions on the ground” in locations “where the need is greatest.”
The Fianna Fáil leader concluded by saying: “Every effort is now being made to make sure every child has a place.”
Meanwhile, Senator McCormack said she “felt compelled to speak up once again” following “several phone calls from deeply concerned parents.”
Speaking in Seanad Éireann, the Laois Senator said: “In 2021, the school was promised a modular build to address serious capacity issues.
“At that time, the principal had already been forced to accommodate 19 classes into just 12 classrooms.
“Despite being granted nine additional student places last year – which have already been filled – the school is still waiting for that modular build.
“To date, there has been no communication from the Department regarding the promised expansion.
“Meanwhile, 45 children are currently on the waiting list, with nowhere else to go.
“I have asked the Minister to urgently review this situation, to expedite the modular build, and to expand its scale to reflect the growing demand.
“These children and their families deserve certainty, support, and access to the education they need.”
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