'Every child is entitled to an equal education,' Tipperary TD criticises ASD unit decision

Deputy Mattie McGrath has yesterday in the Dáil, raised the issue of the decision by the National Council of Special Education to halt the addition of ASD units for secondary schools in the South Tipperary area. 

"ASD units were approved in the secondary schools in South Tipperary, parents of children with special needs have been waiting for spaces and an extra class to open up this year for their children, they now have received shocking news from the department that the classes will not go ahead. 

"The problem has arisen because the number of special schools in the national tally has been rolled out, 399 classes." says Deputy McGrath. 

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"This is because someone in the NCSE has decided that we've met a target and the job is done, box ticked. This is a huge blow to the principals of these schools and the parents of these students.

"There is a real need to have these extra classes, and people thought they had a place in the school" continued McGrath. 

"Are we going to allow a situation now where because we've reached a certain quota, that the needs of the child is just a box ticked. 

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"Every child is entitled to an equal education. Parents are exhausted from trying to get a place" concluded McGrath.

Deputy McGrath asked if the Minister for Education could go back and talk to the NCSE about the arrangements and see can they accommodate the six students in South Tipperary.