Five Dundalk students see their class offers withdrawn

Five Dundalk families who were told that their sons had places at a second autism (ASD) unit at the De La Salle College, had the offers for September 2024 withdrawn last month after the school said they were not now able to open another class.

It is believed none of the five students have secured another place at an appropriate unit in Dundalk and the matter was selected for debate as a Topical Issue last week in Leinster House after it was submitted by Sinn Féin TD Ruairí Ó Murchú.

Opening the debate, the Dundalk deputy said the school had written to parents saying it was “because the Department of Education had failed to provide the school with an adequate ASD modular unit”.

He said Louth County Council had granted planning permission for an extension at the school, which would house an additional ASD unit, in July 2021. Since then, nothing has been built. Deputy Ó Murchú said: “It is now with the Department, at stage 2B.

“The National Council for Special Education (NCSE) had rightly put pressure on the school because it wanted an autism unit, so a teacher and a classroom were given up and the school took in a class in September 2023, although that class has to be made available back to the school for this September.

“A modular unit has been provided for that ASD class but there is no room for a modular unit for the planned second ASD class. Perhaps a double modular unit would have worked. I do not know. Either way, there is nothing in play.”

He said there were also issues with the School Buildings Programme, where primary schools had wanted to add an extra ASD unit last September and are “just hoping it can happen this September”.

Deputy Ó Murchú said: “The planning permission for the main extension at the De La Salle was given in 2021. Will the Minister of State examine the issue? The Stage 2B cost report was received by the Department in Q4 2023 and is currently being reviewed.

“I will follow it up with the Minister Norma Foley, and the Minister of State Higgins. The five families in question have been given no answers and I have received no answers from the NCSE. There seems to be a theme in the lack of ASD units and the interaction at times between the Department, the NCSE and schools.

“There is general information about looking in Dunleer and Drogheda despite this issue relating to Dundalk. Talk to Deputy Imelda Munster, though, and she will say there is no room at the inn in any of the schools there. None of this is good enough and everything is behind time. We need this matter to be addressed to some degree. There are families being put through significant stress.”

In response, Minister of State Malcom Noonan said: “Regarding De La Salle College, my understanding is that, last October, five students were accepted into its ASD unit for September 2024. However, on 26 March of this year, the school called to state it could no longer offer a place to any of the students.

“The reason given to parents was that the Department of Education was not providing the promised classroom. The Department will continue to work with the NCSE, particularly on planning for special classes and special school places in Louth and nationwide – this work is under way – ahead of the 2024-25 school year. The location of new classes for that year will be confirmed by the NCSE shortly”.