(Ireland) Louth: Parents "still struggling" to secure SPED places for children

June 16, 2025, Louth Live: Louth parents ‘put through the mincer’ over special education places

Ruairí Ó Murchú says families are still struggling to secure school places for children

Parents in Louth who need a special education place for their child are being ‘put through the mincer’, despite government assurances that every child who needs a place has one in the county, Dundalk TD Ruairí Ó Murchú has said.

The Sinn Féin spokesperson on disability engaged with Minister of State Michael Moynihan in the Dáil last week, asking what work the government has done to ensure appropriate primary and secondary school placements for all children.

Deputy Ó Murchú said: “We know the constant problems there have been, with parents having been put through the mincer, for want of a better term. 

“Some of the complaints have been that in many cases, particularly secondary schools, we are aware of the children who are in primary school and coming into that age bracket. It is about making sure everybody is talking to everybody else to ensure the NCSE, the schools and the Department have the information. 

 “I agree that action did need to happen on school admissions policies. I have proposed legislation in respect of the fact that for kids with additional needs, there should be a two-year run-in. I know changes have happened. 

“A two-year run-in would allow the school to prepare whatever resources are required and we would actually have those places on hand. That is an absolute necessity”.

He also asked about when school-based therapies will be rolled out and told the minister he will continue to push the issue.

Minister Moynihan said he and Education Minister Helen McEntee are ‘acutely aware of the issue and are working extremely hard on it’.

The minister said: “I think we have facilitated everybody who was requiring a place in Louth this year. A memo was taken to the Government this week in respect of therapies within the schools. They will be rolled out to the special schools this year”.

But the Louth TD said he was still being contacted by families whose child did not have a place for next year.  He said: “We need those cases sorted as soon as possible. It is not right”.