Junior Minister Phones Kildare Parents After Kfm Report As ASD Crisis Raised In Dáil

The Minister contacted Harry Gray’s parents after the family told Kfm News and Kildare Today that they were prepared to travel to Kanturk in West Cork to seek answers in person.

A Kildare father at the centre of an ASD placement battle has received a direct phone call from Junior Education Minister Michael Moynihan - after warning he was prepared to travel to West Cork for a meeting - as the case was raised in the Dáil today.

The Minister contacted Harry Gray’s parents after the family told Kfm News and Kildare Today that they were prepared to travel to Kanturk in West Cork to seek answers in person.

Kfm News has learned that Deputy Moynihan requested Harry's details and promised to call his parents back in 10 days. 

Harry's father, David, explained the circumstances his child, and many other parents, are facing while trying to secure an ASD class place for their children. 

The issue was also raised in the Dáil earlier by Sinn Fein TD Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh, who highlighted ongoing difficulties for families seeking post-primary ASD places.

Harry, who attends an ASD class in Milltown, has no suitable place lined up for secondary school in 2026.

His parents have applied to schools in Newbridge, Kildare Town, Monasterevin, Prosperous, Pipers Hill and Millennium Park.

They have been either placed on long waiting lists or told no ASD places exist.

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

The family say they are caught between schools and the NCSE’s Special Education Needs Organisers - with schools directing them to SENOs and SENOs referring them back to schools.

They say SENOs know a year in advance how many children in primary ASD classes will need post-primary places, yet parents must reapply annually and can lose position when new applicants are added.

Two psychological assessments - from 2023 and 2024 - recommend an ASD class.

Harry currently learns in a class of six and struggles in crowded settings.

His family believe a mainstream secondary environment would not meet his needs and say SNA support is not consistent enough to bridge that gap.

They have explored home schooling but were told the process is more complex than often assumed and mainly used in cases involving specific medical needs.

Harry’s parents say they have contacted multiple local representatives and call the NCSE daily, using several different contact numbers, but have not received definitive guidance on where their son will be placed.

They say they will continue to press for an appropriate place and want accountability from both the NCSE and the 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.

You can listen back to the full interview with Harry's father David here.