'Let down big time' Laois twins with Autism still waiting for school places
Mountmellick mother Sarah Dooley shares stress of getting refusal letters
The mother of Laois twins is pleading for help to find a school for her boys.
John and Patrick Dooley from The Rock, Mountmellick have their fifth birthday on Monday, February 19, but their parents have not been able to find them an Autism unit in any school so they can start school next September.
"This is the reality of the world we live in.
"Today we received the second two refusals of school places for our 2 boys. In the next 2 weeks we expect to receive about 15 more.
"No parent should have to stress or worry if there children are going to get a school place for primary school.Every child no matter what the issue is, is entitled to a place in primary school.
"There is no places in units across the county," Sarah said.
"If our boys were ok there would be no issue they would have got there acceptance letter this week for mainstream school and that would have been the start of there next journey in life.
"But no because our boys have autism and can't talk there is big problems getting them into a unit for September.
"It's not the kids fault, it's not our fault. We are been let down big time. We are fighting so so hard for this.
"It could be April before we know for sure what way this will work out. That's a long time from last year stressing and worrying over something that they should automatically get," Sarah Dooley said.
Meanwhile a group of parents in another part of Laois have gathered nearly 1,000 signatures in a campaign to get an ASD unit in their area. Some of the parents in the Errill and Rathdowney areas are forced to take 2 hour round trips daily to bring their children to the nearest available Autism school unit.