(Ireland) Dublin: No school places for growing number of autistic students

May 25, 2022, Dublin People: NO PLACES FOR 15 AUTISTIC CHILDREN IN DUBLIN 15 SECONDARY SCHOOLS https://dublinpeople.com/news/northsidewest/articles/2022/05/25/no-places-for-15-autistic-children-in-dublin-15-secondary-schools-2/

A CRISIS public meeting held last week called on the government to intervene in the secondary school placement emergency for children with autism in Dublin 15. A survey of 100% of the principals of primary schools in Dublin 15 has revealed that at least 15 children have no appropriate placement at secondary level this autumn.

The survey also showed that, on average, a total of 42 places will be required at secondary school for children with autism in Dublin 15 every year – and there is not a single secondary level special class place available for children with autism in the area….

“At least 15 autistic children in Dublin 15 are currently without an appropriate Secondary school placement less than 3 months before school starts,” Síle Parsons told Northside People.

“Where is the forward planning by the National Council for Special Education?...

“The newly opened and hard fought for Danu Community Special School is now full and will not be open to new enrollments for 5 years.

“9 Autistic children yearly will require a special school placement for secondary school. “Where will they go?

“Dublin 15 needs a purpose built special school with onsite therapists that will accommodate all of these students and their needs.

“The system is broken.

“Time to be proactive, not reactive and 100% child centred.”... “The Government needs to take responsibility for this now,” Síle said. “It needs to give the NCSE the clear direction and resources to implement a solution to the immediate crisis and to work with the autism community and all school principals to put in place plans to prevent this from happening year after year, after year. “It has become a form of State sponsored torture for parents of autistic children.”

Over 200 people in attendance at the meeting