“I Won’t Back Down”: Kildare Dad Rings Seven Phone Lines A Day In ASD Placement Battle For His Son

Mr Gray is so desperate for help that he said he will drive to Kanturk in West Cork to have a face-to-face meeting with Michael Moynihan, Minister of State at the Department of Education.

A Kildare family say their 12-year-old son - who currently attends an ASD class in a Milltown primary school - has been left with no suitable place for secondary school next September, despite applying to every available special class in the wider Newbridge–Kildare area.

Harry Gray, whose father is David Gray, is one of dozens of children caught in what parents describe as a “broken” allocation system for post-primary ASD placements.

Mr Gray is so desperate for help that he said he will drive to Kanturk in West Cork to have a face-to-face meeting with Michael Moynihan, Minister of State at the Department of Education.

The family say they have applied to schools in Newbridge, Kildare Town, Monasterevin, Prosperous, Pipers Hill and Millennium Park - but have either been placed far down long waiting lists or told no places exist.

At St Conleth’s Community College, Harry is fourth on a waiting list. 

The Grays say they have been told to apply “everywhere”, even when schools have confirmed they are full.

“Schools tell us to talk to the SENO, the SENO sends us back to the schools. Nobody has answers,” Mr Gray said.

The family say the SENO (Special Education Needs Organiser) system is at the heart of parents’ frustration.

Harry’s parents say SENOs know how many children in primary ASD classes will need post-primary places a year in advance - while schools do not see applications until parents submit them.

If no ASD place is found, Harry will be placed in mainstream secondary education - something his parents believe would be unsuitable.

Harry currently learns in a class of six. 

Psychological reports from 2023 and 2024 both recommend an ASD class.

His father says he recently attempted 10 minutes of a speech-and-language visit and suffered a meltdown that required a sensory break.

A mainstream classroom could mean more than 30 pupils, and while he has access to an SNA, the family say the support is not constant.

He said each year, families must obtain a letter of eligibility from a SENO and apply again - even if their child was already on a waiting list.

“If no place becomes free that year, children are pushed down the list again when new applicants come in.  Mr Gray said.

The family say they even explored home schooling but were told the process is “more complicated than it seems” and is typically supported only where a child has specific physical needs.

Mr Gray says he has contacted multiple local TDs and councillors and calls the NCSE daily - using seven different contact numbers - but still has no definitive answer on where his son will be placed.

"I will not back down,” he said.

He says he has received no response from senior NCSE officials and has vowed to travel to meet them in person if necessary.

The family say they will continue to fight for an appropriate placement - and want accountability from the NCSE and Department of Education.

In a statement to Kfm, a spokesperson for the Department of Education said: The NCSE has sanctioned 407 new special classes and over 300 new special school places are being provided for the 2025/26 school year, ensuring sufficient capacity to meet demand, including for all children known to the NCSE by the February 2025 deadline. 17 of these new special classes are in Kildare, bringing the total number of special classes in Kildare to 148."

They added: "38 of these special classes are in post-primary schools and it is intended to further increase the number of special classes in schools in Kildare for the 2026/2027 school year."

They added: "Five new special schools will open this year, adding to the 11 established in recent years, including one in Kildare. Each class will be staffed with a dedicated teacher and two Special Needs Assistants, with further staffing available based on individual needs."

"While the department does not comment on individual cases, we are very conscious of the needs of children and the NCSE are available to offer support and guidance to families of children and young people seeking a special class or special school place. If any parent needs support their local Special Educational Needs Organiser, or SENO, is there to help," the spokesperson said. 

Kfm News recently highlighted how some parents are also facing difficulty securing a place since the NCSE closed its portal. 

The portal shut on 1 October.

It allowed parents to upload medical reports and get the eligibility letter needed to apply for ASD and special-class places.