Kildare Parents Demand Action Over Lack of School Places for Children with Additional Needs

Friday, 4 April 2025 11:46

By Tara Flanagan

Speaking on Kildare Today, parents Aoife from Naas and Vivienne from Leixlip share their experiences

A growing group of concerned parents is calling for urgent government action to address the shortage of school places and supports for children with additional needs, including autism and dyslexia.

The group which held protests outside Leinster House earlier this week, says families are facing significant barriers in accessing suitable education for their children.

Many schools lack the resources or capacity to support children with special educational needs, and parents say they feel ignored by the system.

Vivienne Sullivan, a mother from Leixlip shared her son’s years-long wait for an autism diagnosis, only receiving verbal confirmation this year after beginning the assessment process in 2017.

Though he is now in secondary school, she says the lack of appropriate support — including limited ASD places and teaching staff — has left him struggling in a mainstream environment.

Another parent Aoife Quirke from Naas described how assistive technology helped her son with severe dyslexia and autism engage in class for the first time.

However, finding a suitable secondary school remains a challenge due to limited availability and resources.

The campaign group, Equality in Education, has grown organically from parents determined to fight for their children's rights.

They are calling for more school places, increased funding for support services, and a system that ensures no child is left behind.

"Schools are doing their best, but without the resources, children are slipping through the cracks,” one parent said. “This is not just about education — it’s about their future mental health and wellbeing.”