Carlow-Kilkenny parents struggling to get children assessed for special needs assistance - O'Connor

Parents and guardians in the Carlow-Kilkenny constituency are currently struggling to get children assessed for special needs assistance, according to Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor.

Speaking in the Dáil yesterday, O'Connor raised a number of local cases that illustrated the prominence and scale of the issue in the local constituency.

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"My office has been flooded with communications from families, caregivers, teachers and principals," she said.

"A special education preschool in Carlow has shared discharge numbers for 2023 with me. Of 14, seven are waiting for a data assessment. Four are to go to mainstream schools who have never met a therapist. That is absolutely shocking.

"Some of these children have already lost out on an autism spectrum disorder, ASD, preschool placement because they have not had their assessment to date. They should be going to a special education school or a special class within the locality but, again, without an educational assessment, they will not get a placement at this stage."

Deputy O'Connor also told the Dáil that lady came into her office recently 'who had to borrow €1,000 from her credit union to pay to have her child assessed'.

"She cannot afford this and it is unacceptable," she said..

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The Deputy asked that the issue be raised with the Minister of State, Deputy Madigan, and the Minister, Deputy Foley.

"We need to work with the HSE, in particular in CHO 4 in Carlow-Kilkenny," she said.

"All agencies need to work together to find a solution. It is the children who are important. I cannot stress enough that early intervention is key to this."