(Ireland) Kildare: Autistic boy has no school place, despite 4,000 more SPED places
The parents of a boy who has no school to attend has written an open letter to government pleading for a solution
The parents of a Kildare teen with additional needs are pleading for the government to not let him get left behind.
Edel and Dennis Murray have applied to five different special schools in hopes of finding a spot for their son Jack, who has autism and a “moderate intellectual disability.”
In an open letter to the government, the couple outlined how they have been trying to secure a future for their son. . . .
Jack completed primary school in June 2026 and Edel and Dennis have applied to five special schools since. . . .
Jack has been refused a space at every school, despite living less than 1.5km from one of them.
“We cannot put into words the heartbreak and helplessness we feel. How do you explain to your child that there is no school place for him when all he needs is the opportunity to learn and grow?” they wrote. . . .
“We are urgently calling on the Irish Government, the Minister for Education, the NCSE, and everyone responsible for special education to listen to families like ours. We need more suitable special school places, a system that does not leave children without access to education, a clear pathway forward for families who have exhausted every option, and urgent action to ensure children like Jack are not left behind,” they added. . . .
A spokesperson from the Department of Education issued the following statement:
“The Department of Education and Youth does not comment on individual cases. However, we recognise that for families who are still seeking an appropriate school placement for their child, this can be a challenging and uncertain time.
The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) has advised that, subject to geographic considerations, there is sufficient specialist capacity to support children and young people seeking specialist placements for the 2026/27 school year. While admissions processes remain ongoing in some schools, the position continues to evolve, with schools making offers, families accepting places and additional places becoming available. Importantly, there are currently more special class places available than there is identified demand.
The NCSE continues to work directly with families across the country to support children and young people seeking special school and special class placements. Through its Parents Notify process, the NCSE has gathered detailed information on children requiring specialist placements and has used this information to inform planning and the sanctioning of additional provision where needed. As school admissions processes conclude and further placement offers issue, the NCSE remains actively engaged with both families and schools. We would encourage any family still seeking a placement to continue engaging with the NCSE, which is available to provide advice and support. . . .
The 2026/27 school year will also see the largest expansion of specialist educational provision in the history of the State. Through the combined efforts of the department and the NCSE, 587 new special classes have been sanctioned, including 70 inclusive special classes. In addition, more than 500 new special school places are being provided through the opening of four new special schools and the expansion of existing schools. Overall, more than 4,000 new specialist educational places are being delivered for the coming school year, ensuring increased capacity to meet the needs of children and young people requiring additional support.”
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