McAuliffe calls for greater resources for schools with ASD students

Fianna Fáil TD Paul McAuliffe has called on Government to provide support for ASD classes to schools in his area. 

He said not enough is being done to provide support to schools who wish to take on students with AD.

Two schools in McAuliffe’s constituency of Dublin North-West have opted for the addition of an ASD class and said that additional accommodation was required.

He cited the case of the Holy Spirit Girls National School in Ballymun, who opted for the addition of an ASD class but were told that certain elements of the project such as a new canopy and play equipment for ASD students were removed.

He said that cost was cited as an issue, and said while the canopy and play equipment may be seen as “superfluous” he said they are an important part of providing education to people on the ASD spectrum.

He told the Dáil that the school is “particularly disappointed,” saying the change was seemingly made at the last minute.

Gaelscoil Uí Earcáin, another school that has taken on an ASD class, has called for additional funding so they can provide support for the students. 

“Many of the trauma-informed reports talk about how nurture rooms play a really important role. Another example is space for home-school liaison and school completion staff within the building. When we are doing these large projects, we need to find a way to future-proof what is required.”

McAuliffe said “I have already been contacted by parents who are struggling to find an appropriate secondary school place for their child in the area” and said he hoped for “a sense of urgency” to provide places for students at a secondary school level. 

Raising the issue with Fine Gael Minister Josepha Madigan, he said “the number of ASD classes we have opened at primary level will not physically fit into the number of schools we have.”

“I know the Minister of State is working on this matter, but my area is already starting to see the creaking demand for second-level places when we have just about started to address primary level.

He said that all of the activity is happening at primary school level, and this is not being applied to secondary school level. 

“All of those children are going to need a second-level place or some second-level support. Some of that might be special schools but, hopefully, some of it will be ASD classes in second-level schools.”