Dublin parents struggle to secure special education placements

Parents in Dublin are struggling to find school places for children with special educational needs. Tara McAuley Ryan has applied to over 20 schools for her son, Reign, who has autism and ADHD, but most have denied him admission. A recent protest highlighted the issue, with parents demanding more special school places. The Department of Education acknowledged the rising number of autism diagnoses but stated that not all children require specialist intervention. The government plans to open 400 special classes next school year, but many schools report they lack the resources to do so. Parents continue to face challenges in securing appropriate placements for their children.