Welcome in Carrick-on-Suir for approval of town's first primary school class for kids with autism

The Government’s decision to open Carrick-on-Suir’s first Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) class for primary school children at Gaelscoil Charraig na Siúire in September has been welcomed by a parents action group set up in the town to campaign for the class. 

The Carrick-on-Suir ASD Unit Campaign Group said its members are “absolutely delighted” with the news that the Department of Education has finally listened to families  who have encountered serious difficulties in securing primary school places for their young children.

Primary school age children from Carrick with ASD currently have to travel to schools in communities like Mooncoin, Piltown and Portlaw that have dedicated ASD classes.

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Carrick-on-Suir to get dedicated primary school class for children with autism, TD is informed

The Gaelscoil had expressed interest in setting up an ASD class over the past few years and there was great disappointment among parents last year when the Department of Education didn’t approve the school’s application.

That disappointment is now a thing of the past and  Carrick ASD Unit Campaign Group spokesperson Breda Tobin said their members now hope other local primary schools will follow the Gaelscoil’s lead and also apply to establish their own ASD class. 

She said the Gaelscoil  ASD class catering for six pupils won’t meet all the local demand. Some parents will still have to send their children on buses to other schools with ASD units in other communities.

Ms Tobin, who is an Early Years Educator at a preschool in Carrick, said she knows of a number of Carrick parents seeking to extend their child’s ECCE preschool placement for a third year if no suitable ASD primary school placement is secured for them. 

“So although we are absolutely delighted and thrilled that they (the Department of Education) finally listened to us, we hope the Gaelscoil will be a shining example for what will follow from other schools.”

Gaelscoil Charraig na Siúire Principal Linda Nic an Bháird also welcomed the sanctioning of  the ASD class with one teacher and two Special Needs Assistants approved to educate six children for the upcoming 2023/2024 academic year. 

She said the Gaelscoil hopes to  be able to increase the number of pupils taught in  the ASD class in the years to come.  

 “We are very happy that we will now be able to support children with autism in our school and in the wider community in Carrick-on-Suir. Inclusivity is so important for us. 

“We have a strong team in the school; we have been actively looking to establish this class and we have a lot of experience. 

“It’s very important to us that children should be able to go to school in their local area, she added.  

The Department of Education’s decision to sanction the  ASD class   was confirmed to Sinn Féin TD Martin Browne in a response to a Parliamentary Question he tabled last week.  

He was one of several local  politicians  to make representations over the past 18 months on behalf of Carrick-on-Suir families struggling to secure a primary school place for their children diagnosed with  autism. 

Deputy Browne said the approval of the Gaelscoil's application was great news. He credited the “steadfast campaigning” of parents and teachers in Carrick and  work done by Gaelscoil Charraig na Siúire for making this happen. 

Carrick-on-Suir MD Cathaoirleach Cllr David Dunne said it was a  great achievement.   “For too long parents  had to deal with the anxiety of trying to secure a place in a nearby ASD class.  But they spoke up, the Gaelscoil stepped up, and finally their demands have been taken on board,” the Sinn Féin councillor added.

Independent TD Michael Lowry, who also made representations to the Government to secure an ASD class for Gaelscoil Charraig na Siúire, said he was delighted school's application has been approved.

He said Education Minister Norma Foley informed him that the school has received the relevant authorisation letters from the National Council for Special Education and families are currently seeking enrolments for their children to the new ASD class as per Department of Education criteria and guidelines.

He outlined that there are currently 106 Special Classes in county Tipperary.  Of these, 71 special classes are at primary level and 35 are at post-primary level.

"Over the last three years, 21 new special classes at primary and 11 new special classes at Post-Primary have been provided in county Tipperary," the TD added.