Taoiseach Micheál Martin has committed to securing special school spaces at St. John's Special School, Dungarvan, Waterford.
22 schoolchildren with additional needs remain without a place for the coming school year at St. John's Special School.
Given the limited spaces and high demand, the school was forced to pick names at random through a lottery and create a waiting list.
Sinn Fein Leader Mary Lou McDonald raised the issue in the Dáil this evening - describing the situation as 'unthinkable'.
"The idea that any child is forced into a lottery for the chance of getting a school place is unthinkable and yet it's happening. The child's future down to the luck of the draw - the child whose number doesn't come up left behind. One mother, Rebecca Meehan from Waterford, is quoted today in the media as saying, it's like playing the Euromillions for her child's future. Parents are frustrated, exhausted, heartbroken, receiving rejection letter after rejection letter. Last week, we tabled a motion calling on you to ensure that every child has access to a school place in September within reasonable distance of their home, but you opposed that motion and made amendments to dilute that very reasonable demand."
"Taoiseach, can I ask you why is it that you refuse to guarantee a suitable school place for every child next September?", queried Deputy McDonald.
In response, An Taoiseach reaffirmed his commitment to delivering for those without school places in Dungarvan and nationwide.
"My clear belief is that there's a constitutional right to every child to a school place and to an education. I met yesterday with eight government ministers discussing the establishment of a disability unit within the Department of Taoiseach. There's been very significant investment in special education, there continues to be and there will continue to be in terms of extra special schools. The number of special classes has doubled in the last five years to 3,236. 11 new special schools have been established since 2020, five more are planned for 2025-26."
"That's no consolation to Jay Meehan and the family involved there, but we will do everything we possibly can to get a place for that child for September 2025 and indeed for all the children waiting. That will be a very clear focus of the government, particularly in the special education area where the investment continues and will have to continue."
For the latest Waterford News and Sport, tune into WLR News on the hour and download the WLR App for news on demand.
