“These children and their families have been badly let down”
Minister for Children, Roderic O’Gorman, has acknowledged that autistic children left without a school place for the new term have been “badly let down” by the state.
Parents have shared their frustrations, with some being turned away by as many as 30 schools in their search for a place for their children.
In response, protests have erupted over the issue, prompting Minister O’Gorman to call for urgent improvements in how the state identifies and addresses the needs of these children.
“We know, for example, that in Dublin 15 we are supporting maybe 30 kids with an AIM worker in early years services.
“That’s a crucial indicator of the high level of need for children with disabilities in this area,” he said.
“This demand must now be reflected in primary and secondary schools.”
Some parents have accused the state of treating their kids like “second-class citizens,” a sentiment that Minister O’Gorman acknowledged, showing that change is necessary.
“These children and their families have been badly let down,” he admitted. “I’ve said it in meetings with them and I’ve said it publicly.
“That’s why I’ve spent so much time over the last nine months working closely with Minister Naughton to ensure we secure appropriate class places for these children.”
According to the Irish Society for Autism, 1.5% of schoolchildren in Ireland have been diagnosed with the condition.
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