Education system failing children with special educational needs says Cummins

The government must “urgently” address the severe shortage of special school places across the country, according to Social Democrats TD Jen Cummins.

Cummins was speaking ahead of 24-hour protest outside the Department of Education by parents of children with special needs as they look to raise awareness about the lack of school places, an issue raised by this publication as part of an ongoing campaign.

Cummins, the Soc Dems’ spokesperson for education, said, “I stand in solidarity with the parents and guardians participating in today’s 24-hour sleep-out protest outside the Department of Education.”

“They aim to highlight the ongoing crisis in securing appropriate school placements for children with special educational needs,” she said.

“In 2025, it is utterly unacceptable that parents are left with no other choice than to fight for the very basics for their children.”

She said, “our education system is failing these families, and immediate, decisive action is required to address this injustice.”

“Many children cannot access suitable educational settings – parents are at their wits’ end trying to secure school places for this academic year, which is a basic human right of every child in this country.”

“We need comprehensive planning and resource allocation to meet the needs of all students,” the Dublin South Central TD said.

“The current situation highlights a significant deficiency in the Department of Education’s forward planning and stakeholder engagement – we need to ensure that every child has access to the education they deserve.

“The Department must communicate directly with the affected families and implement immediate measures to expand capacity in special education.

“These children cannot afford to wait – their futures depend on the actions we take today.”