Dublin 15 Special Education Taskforce Report Addresses Shortage, Recommends 21 Changes

Caitríona Rohan took legal action against the Department of Education in 2024 to secure a school place for her son, Rían, born in 2019 and diagnosed with autism. The family lives in Huntstown, Dublin 15, an area facing a significant shortage of special school places.

A Government taskforce, established in 2024 and including parents like Rohan from Autism School Dublin 15, published its report on Wednesday. The report acknowledges long waiting times for diagnoses, an «annual scramble» for school places, and planning challenges. It makes 21 recommendations, including a centralised data system for the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) to manage information on children with special educational needs from early childhood through post-primary education. This system aims to enhance current and future planning.

Other recommendations include adequately resourcing Children’s Disability Network Teams (CDNTs) in Dublin 15, where 40 per cent of referrals face four-to-seven-year waiting lists for diagnoses needed for special school placements. The taskforce also calls for significant additional funding for school building, maintenance, and therapeutic/behavioural support. Fine Gael TD Emer Currie and Labour councillor John Walsh welcomed the report, emphasizing the need for immediate implementation and resources.

Rían was placed in an autism class in November 2024, over two months into the school term. However, Rohan believes the school is inappropriate due to its distance, long commute, and lack of local socialisation opportunities. He also lacks the comprehensive support, including speech, occupational, and behavioural therapies, he received at his early intervention preschool, Bye Your Side. Rohan credits early intervention for Rían’s progress but is not optimistic about securing a more suitable placement.