Special Educational Needs
Dail Éireann — 2026-09-30
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Robert O'Donoghue (LAB), Dublin Fingal West

I thank the Minister of State. Unlike some others here, I acknowledge more funding has been put into special schools and education this year. Budget 2026 has expanded service provision within the sector. However, I also know we are coming from such a low baseline that we have a lot to make up for. I know Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, is doing his best - I have no argument there - but we saw the documentary this week with Alison Field having to go through 19 different special schools to find a place for her son. Some funding has been used to educate students in cupboards so funding must be used for quality education, which I am sure the Minister of State is doing his best to do, rather than piecemeal to give ourselves a pat on the back.
I previously suggested to the Minister of State that we could use the AIM model for children with additional needs transferring from early years into primary school, so we know the numbers we are dealing with. That should be seriously looked at, with this school in particular. I know from having been a councillor that expectations need to be managed so that scenarios that have played out with the announcement of this school and the miscommunications do not repeat themselves. The old adage, "If you cannot be best, be first", cannot be used, particularly when dealing with vulnerable students.

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Retrieved: 2026-10-05T01:00:59+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-09-30