Special Educational Needs
Dail Éireann — 2026-04-23
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Barry Heneghan (IND), Dublin Bay North

It is a new school but it was not built big enough and there are more houses going into that area, which I represent. They need modular additions and I would appreciate if the Department could clarify whether it has assessed the situation.
I was speaking to one of the parents who is waiting for a school place. It is the case of James Field, who is currently without an appropriate special school place since September, despite the endless determination from his family. His mother, who was a councillor with me in the Clontarf Ward, has reached out to me. She said:
If James has no appropriate space by September, the years of progress will turn to regress day by day. James does not have play dates or friends coming here. School is essential for James to learn the basic life skills and social skills.
I have met James. He is a fantastic young man. Councillor Ali Field deserves for this case to be looked at. She has raised it through all of the TDs. She said:
If it was my child, how would you feel? You should be ashamed doing this to a 12-year-old, vulnerable little boy.
I would appreciate if the Department could look at that.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-04-23/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-27T06:54:48+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-04-23