Parents panic after new autism classes delayed: 'I have nothing to fall back on'
The planned opening of two new autism classes in an area that severely requires more special education provision looks set to be delayed, affecting a dozen families.
Two new autism classes, enrolling 12 students, are due to open at Corpus Christi National School in Drumcondra, Dublin 9.
Documents submitted to Dublin City Council show that planning permission to convert an existing parish hall for education use was first submitted in February.
Further information was requested by the planning authority in April, which was responded to by the school in May.
Parents were told this week by the school that the project is now delayed.
One parent, who spoke to the Irish Examiner, said there has been no further contact since they received the letter advising of the delay. They removed their child from waiting lists from other schools once they received the offer at Corpus Christi.
'Now I have nothing to fall back on if this doesn't go ahead,' they said.
Their child 'cannot stay at home' and avail of home tutition as routine is key for them, the parent added.
The board of management of Corpus Christi National School refused to answer a series of questions put to it by the Irish Examiner. In a statement, it said: 'The board of management does not wish to comment at this time.'
The Department of Education declined to provide a figure when asked by the Irish Examiner how many of the 399 sanctioned special classes for 2025 will be open in September. In a statement, a spokesperson said it is working to ensure the delivery of all required accommodation solutions for special classes.
It is expected accommodation will be in place for the start of the school year 'in the vast majority of cases', they said, adding: 'Where this is not the case, the National Council for Special Education and department will support the school to put appropriate contingency arrangements in place to ensure that these classes can open while permanent accommodation is being provided.'
Reconfiguration works to provide two special education needs classrooms and two mainstream classrooms is in delivery for Corpus Christi NS, he said: 'The use of the parish hall is part of the project to cater for the mainstream element of the brief. As a result, a full statutory application for change of use was warranted. A reply from the local authority is expected shortly.'
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Threat of industrial action in secondary schools as ASTI rejects Leaving Cert reforms
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Irish Examiner
19 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Parents panic after new autism classes delayed: 'I have nothing to fall back on'
The planned opening of two new autism classes in an area that severely requires more special education provision looks set to be delayed, affecting a dozen families. Two new autism classes, enrolling 12 students, are due to open at Corpus Christi National School in Drumcondra, Dublin 9. Documents submitted to Dublin City Council show that planning permission to convert an existing parish hall for education use was first submitted in February. Further information was requested by the planning authority in April, which was responded to by the school in May. Parents were told this week by the school that the project is now delayed. One parent, who spoke to the Irish Examiner, said there has been no further contact since they received the letter advising of the delay. They removed their child from waiting lists from other schools once they received the offer at Corpus Christi. 'Now I have nothing to fall back on if this doesn't go ahead,' they said. Their child 'cannot stay at home' and avail of home tutition as routine is key for them, the parent added. The board of management of Corpus Christi National School refused to answer a series of questions put to it by the Irish Examiner. In a statement, it said: 'The board of management does not wish to comment at this time.' The Department of Education declined to provide a figure when asked by the Irish Examiner how many of the 399 sanctioned special classes for 2025 will be open in September. In a statement, a spokesperson said it is working to ensure the delivery of all required accommodation solutions for special classes. It is expected accommodation will be in place for the start of the school year 'in the vast majority of cases', they said, adding: 'Where this is not the case, the National Council for Special Education and department will support the school to put appropriate contingency arrangements in place to ensure that these classes can open while permanent accommodation is being provided.' Reconfiguration works to provide two special education needs classrooms and two mainstream classrooms is in delivery for Corpus Christi NS, he said: 'The use of the parish hall is part of the project to cater for the mainstream element of the brief. As a result, a full statutory application for change of use was warranted. A reply from the local authority is expected shortly.' Read More Threat of industrial action in secondary schools as ASTI rejects Leaving Cert reforms
Irish Times
a day ago
- Irish Times
Carl O'Brien: ‘A secret weapon to defusing exam tension at home: the Dad joke'
Yes, the Leaving Cert is a sadistic rite of passage – but sometimes you do have to laugh. As we know, all laws of household behaviour have been suspended. Students communicate in sighs. Discarded mugs are signs of academic focus. Any attempt to vacuum is 'sabotaging their future'. Tension is everywhere. Thankfully, our exam parent Damian Cullen has found an important mood-breaker in the past few weeks: the Dad joke. No situation is too tense for a simple, pun-based joke – the cornier the better. READ MORE We liked his advice to his Junior Cycle and Leaving Cert daughters as they headed off to sit their English papers; – 'Best of luck today, girls. Remember to avoid cliches like the plague.' Two sets of eyes roll. – 'Ughh, goodbye.' Be sure to read Daman's latest dispatch – it is well worth it. Damian Cullen with his wife and daughter at a recent school graduation ceremony After eight days of State exams, a much-needed weekend of respite stretches ahead. We've had quite a response from readers on the physical and mental toll these exams have been had on students. Stress In a report which didn't gain anywhere near as much publicity as it should have, the OECD took a critical look at the Leaving Cert in 2023. . It noted how the CAO points system is unusual in the degree to which it is 'particularly competitive' and 'every single mark can be critical' for entry into college. It concluded that the exams were a period of 'intense stress and pressure' which was 'limiting space for development of broader skills that are 'critical for young people's lifelong learning'. At least Leaving Cert reforms are now on the horizon with a much greater focus on continual assessment and project work – but the CAO system is, in many ways, the tail that wags the dog. As long as it remains brutally competitive, the pressure will be transferred into the assessment process. Pathways On that note, we'll be dedicating our newsletters next week to looking at the latest information and advice available for school leavers on further education, apprenticeships, new tertiary degree options without CAO points and, yes, the CAO itself. Hopefully, it will be a reminder to exam-addled students – and parents – that there are more pathways than ever to pursue your career dreams. Have a great weekend. How are we doing? If you are a parent/ guardian of a Leaving Cert student, we'd love to hear from you. Maybe you have a personal story to share, have a burning question or want to comment on the exams, CAO and further education applications process. Please click the link below to send us your questions or feedback: ingCert But they have been a very important mood-breaker over the past few weeks. No matter how cool and unfazed a teenager normally is, the Leaving Certificate is an imitating beast – a shadow keeping thousands of students in the shade even on the sunniest of June days.
Irish Times
a day ago
- Irish Times
Leaving Cert parent: It is cruel and unusual punishment - but sometimes you have to laugh
We like stupid jokes in this house. Dad jokes. They get far too much laughter considering the quality of the joke. And the inevitable bad delivery. But they have been a very important mood-breaker over the past few weeks. No matter how cool and unfazed a teenager normally is, the Leaving Certificate is an imitating beast – a shadow keeping thousands of students in the shade even on the sunniest of June days. Brief moments of light relief are valuable, even if it's just temporary. READ MORE Dropping my Junior and Leaving Cert girls (yes, we had both this year!) at their local school on the first day of this month's state exams, it was noticeable how many students looked terrified on their way to English paper one – nervous, frail, sick looking. Including my own. - 'Best of luck today, girls. Remember to avoid cliches like the plague.' Two sets of eyes roll. - 'Ughh, goodbye.' I'm surprised by how recognisable the State examinations are. The curriculum may have changed over the decades, but the Irish education system still evaluates students by piling enormous pressure on their young shoulders and then seeing how much they can cram on to a page – on subjects that may have nothing to do with the career they hope to pursue. The Leaving Cert English exams are six hours, 10 minutes, total. Like most of the exams, it's a race, rewarding students good at rote learning with fast handwriting. Also, just like in my day, the first few days of exams fly by. - 'What's tomorrow?' - 'Maths paper one.' - 'Can I help? I'll ask you questions and give you 15 cents for every maths question you get right. You could earn up to 40 cents!' - 'Mom! Tell him to go away.' After just one week, the Junior Cert girl is finished. Nine exams in six days. Her older sister still had three exams, and more than a week and a half, to go. Neighbours and friends told them it was great to get the exams over and dusted with quickly, and also it was handy they were spread out so much, depending on which girl they talked to. Regardless, both felt the immense strain. Parents may understand how, sometimes, you don't realise how sick a child was until they recover. As parents, we felt our main job over the month was not to add to the stress. That's it. Wake them, feed them, tolerate whatever it is you would normally not tolerate – such as coffee mugs left in random places throughout the house. Apart from jokes, I am also armed with really helpful words of encouragement. - 'The only time success comes before work is in the dictionary you know.' - 'Please, please, go away.' An Irish friend living abroad messaged this week to ask how the Leaving Cert was going. She mentioned her child was doing the equivalent of the Leaving Cert. They get their results one week after the exams finish. Here, of course, it will be more than two months before students get the results. The points that decide if they secure the third-level spot they want. Or, maybe, the education system can make them wait even longer to find out which direction their life is going to take. It's cruel and unusual punishment. Luckily, the entire country reacts to someone doing the Leaving like a nationwide self-help group. We all know the pain. And sympathise. In the meantime, in this house, we're all still doing the Leaving Certificate. Everyone that has a family member doing the exams is also doing it. - 'That a physics book?' - 'Ya.' - 'I was wondering what the matter was.' Sometimes, however much they try not to, they can't help but laugh.
