Mattie McGrath highlights mother's fight for special needs school place
Mattie McGrath recounted the case of Sabrina Kelly of Clonmel, who is struggling to secure a school place for her five-year-old son Josh with special needs. He said empty promises from education authorities and schools have taken a toll and urged follow-up to secure an appropriate placement.
Case details
McGrath described Sabrina Kelly as a mother of two children with special needs. He said five-year-old Josh was due to start this month and was initially offered a place at Powstown National School, but that school is now not in a position to cater for Josh's needs. A teacher in Clonmel had promised to return and confirm arrangements but has not yet done so.
Family impact
McGrath said he met Josh on the street and described him as a "lovely young boy who is entitled to the special education that he deserves." He noted that Josh's brother has secured a place, but that Sabrina is under enormous pressure trying to obtain the necessary places for her children.
Official response and follow-up
A minister replied that they will follow up on the specific case and that they hold weekly meetings with the NCSE to ensure children with additional needs have appropriate school places. The minister said that where powers need to be applied, Section 67 is the mechanism by which schools are asked to admit particular children.
Policy application
The minister stated that Section 67 has been used across the country when required, and that while authorities prefer not to have to invoke it, it can be necessary to secure appropriate special education placements for children.
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Minister Sabrina Kelly, a mother of two children from Clonmel, with two children with special needs, has been feigned by the National Council for Social Education and the Department of Education and she is still struggling to get a school place for her younger son Josh. Five-year-old Josh was due to start this month and eventually offered a place in Powstown National School outside Clonmel, however this school is not in a position now to cater for Josh's needs. Sabrina met the teacher in Clonmel a number of weeks ago and she's waiting for him to come back, she promised her to come back and confirm what he said to her. Sabrina says that all the empty promises are taking the toll, especially on young Josh. I met her on Josh last week on the street, a lovely young boy who is entitled to the special education that he deserves. His brother has got a place, thankfully. It's enormous pressure on Sabrina and any other mother as well and her manny who are trying to get places so badly needed for those special children. Thank you, Deputy McGrath. Just in relation to that particular case, I will follow up again. I have weekly meetings with the NCSE in relation to ensuring that children with additional needs have an appropriate school place and I want to reassure you that where powers are needed to be applied, Section 67 is where schools are asked to take in particular children and we don't want to be in a position to do that, but sometimes it is required. And we have done that across the country, but I will follow up again, particularly in relation to Josh's case.
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