A peaceful protest will be held in Dungarvan tonight demanding increased capacity for a special school in the area.
The issue was raised in the Dáil last night as 22 schoolchildren with additional needs remain without a place for the coming school year at St. John's Special School.
Waterford Sinn Fein TD David Cullinane says it's outrageous that such a large volume of children are being left behind.
"In some instances - I would say particularly in County Waterford - but I would also argue maybe in Waterford City as well, there may well be a need for a new special school. While that is something that medium to long term, I think is certainly needed - it is absolutely unacceptable that we have such a volume of young children who deserve to have the same education rights as anybody else, whose parents are doing everything possible, trying to move heaven and earth to get their children the education that they need. It seems that the Department of Education and the government cannot deliver."
His party colleague, Deputy Conor McGuinness TD, says the situation didn't happen overnight - and should've been addressed years beforehand.
"The shortage of special education spaces across Waterford City and County didn't happen overnight, but it has now reached crisis level. 20 children have been told that there's no space for them in St John's Special School come September. Given the limited spaces and high demand, the school was forced to pick names at random through a lottery and create a waiting list. No school and no principal and no team should be put in that position. Their families, the families of these children, have been left reeling and uncertain how, where or if the right to an education of their children will be vindicated."
Accepting the concerns raised - Minister of State at the Department of Education, Michael Moynihan confirmed that he expects a positive development in the weeks ahead.
"In relation to St John's Special School in Dungarvan, the National Council for Special Education are engaging directly with the school regarding the needs of the children in the local area. I can assure the deputies that both I and the Department are awaiting an update on this in terms of any potential need for additional accommodation. I am assured that the NCSE also hope to be able to confirm additional special classes in the area over the coming weeks."
"I agree wholeheartedly with what the deputies have said", continued Minister Moynihan. "I fully understand the challenges that are being faced in Waterford and across the country in relation to school places. I think that it beholds all of us, the role that I have now and the responsibility that I have. I intend to use everything at my disposal to ensure that places are made available. I know and I understand fully the challenges that are being faced across the country and particularly Waterford."
Conor McGuinness TD challenged the Minister's response - raising that it is simply imperative that something is done sooner rather than later - as September will be fast upon us.
"You say that the need for additional school spaces and capacity in County Waterford will be kept under review, but September is coming so quickly for these families. There's no certainty. They have no information. Take every resource that you have available to ensure that there are spaces for these children because with the spaces that are there, there will be children left without a space and the only option for them if the space is not created for them, is to be sat at the kitchen table at home or going without an education. That is not fair in 2025."
"I will work as hard as I can with the resources that are available through the NCSE and through the department and we will try together. I think this is an issue that all of us as public representatives - we've met parents and we know the challenges that are being faced and many complex needs, but we will work as hard as we can to try and find solutions for the parents of the children in Waterford and indeed throughout the country."
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