A Government minister has assured families in west Dublin that school places will be provided for children with special needs, although some services may still be lacking. Minister for Special Education and Inclusion Hildagarde Naughton addressed concerned parents from the Schools for All group who gathered outside Leinster House to demand better resources for their children.
Despite previous pledges, schools in Dublin 15 are still experiencing a shortage of necessary resources, leaving children without proper support and sometimes even without school placements for years. Minister Naughton responded to these issues by promising to secure school places for their children by September, but acknowledged that more needs to be done.
Alongside this protest, teenager Cara Darmody and her father Mark are meeting with Taoiseach Simon Harris to advocate for improved school services. Cara is expected to urge Mr. Harris to fully enact the assessment of needs legislation, which campaigners believe will provide the necessary supports for families in need.