Longford Councillor calls for additional ASD Units

The lack of support for autistic students in second level schools in Longford is an issue that is “not going to go away”.

A motion at the December meeting of Longford County Council by Cllr Paul Ross called on the Minister for Education to provide additional ASD units in secondary schools in Longford.

Addressing the meeting, Cllr Ross said: “The current demand is greater than the available places and this is causing great stress to families who are seeking places.”

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Autistic Spectrum Disorder unit assists students with ASD to complete their education with the skills necessary to participate, to the best of their ability, in an inclusive way in society and to live independent and fulfilled lives.

Cllr Ross said Longford local authority would hold off on sending a letter to the Minister until a government has been formed and a new Minister is in place.

The Fine Gael representative said it is a particularly pressing issue: “On our canvas in the last few weeks this issues came up time and time again,” he said.

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At present there are 47 ASUs in Longford, with 30 at primary level and 17 at second level: “There's a major demand for second level ASD places,” Cllr Ross told members.

Cllr Ross said the issue must be addressed: “It's causing great distress to parents in Edgeworthstown. Granard is full, Ballymahon is full, Longford is near capacity, some have to look to Castlepollard. It's hard enough on families as it is, without having to worry about where their children will be going next September.”

The motion was seconded by Cllr Pauric Brady (FG): “The Department is well aware of the need that is out there. It is a matter of getting funding in place to make it happen.”

Supporting the proposal, Cllr Martin Monaghan (FF) said: “The primary to secondary school ratio is almost two to one. We have children commuting to Boyle and Castlepollard. This a problem that is coming up on the doorsteps. We need to get a grip on this, it is an issue that is not going to go away.”

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Cllr Pat O'Toole (FF) described it as a very apt motion. Ballymahon has three ASD units. Cllr O'Toole, who is on the Board of Management of Ballymahon Vocational School, said he would be pushing to increase the number of units: “it is something we need to address urgently.”

Cllr Uruemu Adejinmi (FF), Cllr Mick Cahill (FF), Cllr Garry Murtagh (FG), Cllr Kevin Hussey, Cllr Martin Skelly, Cllr Niall Gannon, and Cllr Padraig McNamara (FF) all added their support to the proposal.