Parents plan 24-hour sleep out at Department of Education over lack of special needs school places

Parents have been left with no other choice but to protest the lack of school places for children with special needs in Ireland

They will arrive at the Department at 1:00 pm today according to Newstalk to begin what they have described as a “final effort” to bring much-needed attention to the ongoing issues they’re facing.

Parents have issued repeated pleas in the past for the government to bring forward a plan of action to resolve these issues, all of which have reportedly gone ignored by the Department.

As a result of this inaction, families across Ireland are having to cope with their child being placed in inappropriate school settings or being left without a placement at all.

The families taking part in today’s protest published a statement explaining that they “feel compelled to take dramatic action” to bring attention to the severity of the issue.

“We have exhausted all conventional channels, and this sleep out is our last resort,” one of the protesting parents said.

“Our children deserve safe, inclusive, and appropriately resourced educational environments.

“The inaction we’ve experienced is not only heartbreaking - it’s unacceptable.”

According to the group, the protest aims to:

• Shine a light on the critical shortage of suitable SEN school places for the 54 identified children and others like them
• Urge the Department of Education to implement immediate and effective measures to address the gaps in support
• Demand transparency and accountability in the allocation of resources to special education.

The parents plan to remain outside the Department’s premises for 24 hours, to “ensure their voices are heard” and “the plight of their children is not ignored any longer”.