‘We waited, hoped and fought for this class. It's like a cruel betrayal' – parents frustrated after promised autism class is withdrawn

Irish Independent

26-05-2025

Today at 21:30
Parents who had been promised an autism class for their children say they are 'frustrated', 'let down' and 'heartbroken' after learning that it will no longer be proceeding.
When a special class had been made available for Scoil Teampall Toinne in Ballyporeen, Co Tipperary, for ­September, Linda Meade and her husband Patrick Meade were over the moon.
It meant their four-year-old son Reigan, who was diagnosed with autism last year, would get to go to the same school as his older brother and friends.
After being informed that Scoil Teampall Toinne would have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) class, Ms Meade refused the offer of a place at another school which would have catered for her son's needs.
However, parents have now been told that the ASD class will no longer be happening.
'We live in the countryside where services and supports for children with additional needs are already few and far between,' Ms Meade said.
'We struggle for assessments, for therapies, for any kind of support. And now, a class that could have made a real difference is gone.
'How are we supposed to explain this to our children?'
An email from the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) stated that the 'conditions under which the class was sanctioned had significantly changed'.
'The class was sanctioned based on an agreement with the school that they had permanent accommodation available for a special class to open in September 2025,' a NCSE employee told parents.
'Since then, the school have [sic] notified the department that rent will need to be paid on the accommodation and that a permanent build will be required. As a result, the sanction could not progress'.
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We are not asking for special treatment – we are asking for equal opportunities, for dignity, for the right for every child to be educated in a place that supports them
While parents have been advised that the support of special needs assistants will be provided, they fear their children will end up being 'left behind'.
Ms Meade said it was her understanding that a fee has to be paid for the building – which is located next to the main school – but she understood that the 'fee was very negotiable'.
'It doesn't make any sense,' she said.
'We have waited, hoped and fought for this class. Our children cannot wait years for services that should be basic rights. We are not asking for special treatment – we are asking for equal opportunities, for dignity, for the right for every child to be educated in a place that supports them'.
'This decision feels like a cruel betrayal,' she added.
Josephine Sweeney's daughter, Eily (7), is another one of the children set to lose out.
Eily is currently in senior infants at Scoil Teampall Toinne. While she has been able to manage with help from the SNAs so far, going forward she will need even greater support, which is why her mother was 'delighted' when she found out an ASD class would be made available.
I cannot overemphasise the reaction Eily would have, impacting all areas of her life, and our entire family life, if she had to leave Ballyporeen to access the day-to-day assistance she needs
'One of the big things doctors said when Eily received her diagnosis is that they [students with autism] can manage for junior and senior infants, but once they get past that, it gets more academic and that's where they start to fall behind.
'Eily particularly struggles with any type of change to the normal, becoming agitated and very distressed, even if we were only to change the route we take to a familiar location.
'She remains upset for a considerable amount of time afterwards and gets very distraught if things will change from the familiar again.
'I cannot overemphasise the reaction Eily would have, impacting all areas of her life, and our entire family life, if she had to leave Ballyporeen to access the day-to-day assistance she needs to help navigate her way through the educational and social aspects of school'.
The Department of Education said an additional 399 new special education classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE for the 2025/2006 school year.
Another 300 special school places and five new special schools are also being established.
'The NCSE has advised the department that sufficient special class capacity has already been created in this area so that children who require special class placements are able to access them for September 2025.
"In some cases, children may wish to remain in their local school, where they will be supported by the special education resources that are provided to mainstream schools.'
It said queries on individual classes should be referred to the NCSE.
However, the NCSE did not respond to requests for comment.
While the department said there will be nearly 4,000 available spaces for children in special education classes next year, it does not appear that Scoil Teampall will be among them.
The school was contacted for comment.