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Caitriona has been fighting for a school place for her son Rian.

Norma Foley says there are enough special ed places for every child in Dublin 15 - but parents disagree

Two parents who sit on the Dublin 15 Taskforce, dispute the Minister’s claim.

PARENTS OF CHILDREN with additional needs have pushed back on a claim from the Minister for Education that there are now more special education places in Dublin 15 than required.

Dublin 15, the area in North-West Dublin which encompasses Blanchardstown, Mulhuddart, Clonsilla, Castleknock and Tyrrellstown, has been acutely impacted by a shortage of special education school places this year.

This has meant that a number of children have been forced to remain in pre-school settings rather than progressing to primary school. 

Despite Taoiseach Simon Harris stating in July that he could say “with a degree of confidence that every child will have a school place in September”, several children still don’t have somewhere to go to school.

Following protests and campaigning from parents, the government set up a taskforce to help improve the situation specifically in Dublin 15.

Among the members of the taskforce are parents, school principals, representatives from the Department of Education and the Department of Children, and representatives from the National Council for Special Education.

Minister for Education Norma Foley yesterday updated Cabinet on the work of the taskforce. 

Responding to a question from The Journal during a press conference afterwards, Minister Foley said “significant strides” have been made “but it is an ongoing journey”.

Specifically referring to Dublin 15, the Minister said: “I can say to you that we’re now in a place where we have more places available than we do actually have places being required by children, and that’s a very strong positive.”

Figures obtained by The Journal from the Department of Education show that as of 17 October, there were seven children who were seeking a special education place in North Dublin (which encompasses Dublin 15), with 15 vacancies available. 

However, two parents who sit on the Dublin 15 Taskforce, dispute these figures and the Minister’s statement, arguing that the vacancies referred to by the Department are not actually appropriate for the children still without places.

One of these parents is Caitriona Rohan, whose son Rian was due to start primary school this September but has only just been given a place in a special education class.

He will now begin school at the beginning of November and up until now has remained in the autism pre-school that he was attending last year.

Despite Caitriona’s son now having a school place, she said she is not giving up until the situation is solved. 

Caitriona set up the campaign group D15 Schools for All to advocate for appropriate school places for Rian and other children in similar positions.

Speaking to The Journal, Caitriona said she is aware of two children in Dublin 15 who remain without appropriate school places, as well as a number of children who are in mainstream schools, but who should have places in special education schools or classrooms. 

Centralised applications

Although the taskforce has had just one meeting to date, Caitriona said its work so far has been positive. 

“The goal essentially is that no parent will have to go through this again,” Caitriona said. 

Alongside the taskforce, a pilot programme is being trialed to improve the application process for special education school places.

In an effort to move away from the existing system where parents need to make multiple separate applications to different schools, a centralised application process has been set up.

Speaking yesterday, Minister Foley said that if successful, this “may well be a model of best practice going forward that we can employ in other areas.”

The pilot only includes 13 schools to begin with, but Caitriona said it is “very welcome” given how stressful the application process currently is. 

“The process is very, very stressful. You literally have to apply to every school in the area.

“Admissions could open from October and they could run until February.

“You’re getting letters and drips of information here and there. You’re literally watching for the postman every day to see are you going to get a letter,” Caitriona said.

“For the common application process to go nationwide, that would be amazing. It would take so much pressure off the parents,” she added. 

However, even if the application process is improved, a shortage of places still remains.

Among Rian’s pre-school class, just one out of four children secured a school place for September.

Meanwhile, according to data collected by the Dublin 15 Primary Principal Network, 111 children in primary schools in the area are not in the appropriate settings for their needs.

Síle Parsons is another member of the taskforce and is also the spokesperson for the campaign group ‘Autism School Dublin 15′, which was initially set up six years ago to campaign for a special education school for the area.

Responding to the Minister’s assertion that there are now more special education places available in Dublin 15 than there is demand for, Síle questioned the criteria the Department is using to deem a school place appropriate.

“Why is it that parents have to accept what’s available to them rather than what is best suited for their child or for their family?,” she asked.

Síle also made the point that many children are forced to travel long journeys to and from school each day and yet these school places are deemed by the Department to be appropriate.

“They’re expecting children to travel large distances and still arrive regulated and ready to learn. And that’s just not how it works.”

“Every child is entitled to an appropriate education within their community,” Síle told The Journal. 

Her message to politicians ahead of the election is not to make this a political issue. 

“There needs to be a common action plan that all [political] parties agree on, that no matter who gets into government, this is actually going to be a priority.

“It’s not something that should be made into a political football, because the kids are the ones who are going to miss out.”

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    Mute Hugh Gordon-Rection
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 8:51 AM

    Hi journal could you please print more articles like this so I can show them to my girlfriend and convince her that me buying a Ps4 will not turn me into a sedentary immobile cabbage as she seems to believe it would? Thanka

    82
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    Mute Scorpionvenomm
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 10:46 AM

    Forget about your ps4 and build a pc for gaming :)

    24
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    Mute Hugh Gordon-Rection
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 11:32 AM

    is that not a good bit more expensive/hassle? Though it has the Trojan horse advantage that I could pretend Im dropping a grand on it for its amazing word processing capabilities only to “discover” it can be used for games too once its in the door!

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    Mute Scorpionvenomm
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 11:34 AM

    If you love gaming you’ll know the difference between console and PC gaming and money won’t come into it :)

    9
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    Mute Aaron O Connor
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 11:49 AM

    My gaming pc only cost 200 more than my xbox one/ps4. The extra you spend you will save after buying 10 full price AAA games from steam.

    13
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    Mute Allan Brown
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 12:31 PM

    Pc can be built for €600 and upgraded when needed. Lasts longer and games are cheaper.

    11
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    Mute Foghorn Leghorn
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 12:50 PM

    Gaming PC pffft. How long are you waiting to play Gta 5 now?

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    Mute Mr. Dragmire
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    Dec 3rd 2014, 2:10 AM

    I’d love to build a gaming PC someday.

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    Mute John Byrne
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    Dec 3rd 2014, 4:28 AM

    T

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    Mute Darren Burke
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 8:49 AM

    Great piece. I’d even argue that games in themselves are a great stress reliever, without even trying to establish the link as directly as you have with the PIP. I find them great for blowing off some steam.

    So sick of the ridiculous articles about games and ‘de-sensitising’ that do the rounds every so often, nice to read one without the scare-mongering!

    43
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    Mute Mr. Dragmire
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    Dec 3rd 2014, 2:18 AM

    I think it depends a lot on the type of game and the player’s personality. When I play CS:GO I don’t usually find it relaxing. Fun, yes, but stressful! Skyrim I find relaxing and I play a game called Cue Club. I think that open world games can be the best for relaxing and de-stressing (although a lot can be said for unloading a machine gun into a swarm of monsters attacking you!) as you can usually do whatever you like. I remember playing GTA3 years ago and just driving around. That’s it. Having fun driving around the city and trying out different vehicles.

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    Mute Ciaran Moriarty
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 10:21 AM

    I’d agree that gaming is a nice way to put the feet up and relax… right up to the point where I discovered Dark Souls and my blood pressure has never been the same since!

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    Mute Timmy O Toole
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 11:45 AM

    I hear that game is brutally tough, lol.

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    Mute Mr. Dragmire
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    Dec 3rd 2014, 2:09 AM

    I’ve started playing Risk of Rain. It’s fun but you will die a lot. Like most roguelikes.

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    Mute Anto Byrne
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 8:33 AM

    Games are for children. Any grown man playing computer games deserves to be neutered at the balls.

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    Mute Ian McNally
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 9:08 AM

    Newsflash many games aren’t actually made for children, the biggest selling games are always over 18′s and the average age of a typical “gamer” is actually 31 http://venturebeat.com/2014/04/29/gaming-advocacy-group-the-average-gamer-is-31-and-most-play-on-a-console/

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    Mute Foghorn Leghorn
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 9:20 AM

    Closer inspection of your profile pic and the name ‘anto’ has ruled your opinion null and void.

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    Mute Mr. Dragmire
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    Dec 3rd 2014, 2:33 AM

    Games are for children? Really? Have you heard of F.E.A.R., Amnesia the dark descent, GTA, Silent Hill or Dead Space? Don’t think the developers had children as their target market there.

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    Mute Enda
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 8:30 AM

    Or you could do some exercise or something useful. Gaming is an absolute waste of time. It’s bad enough children playing but anyone still interested in games as an adult needs to grow up.

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    Mute Enda
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 8:38 AM

    I don’t have a TV. I agree most programming these days is even more moronic than wasting your life prancing around virtual reality.

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    Mute Del Haven
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 9:27 AM

    I bet you sit on the sofa like a lemon watching rubbish tv shows on your laptop while your brain melts away. At least with gaming you’re using it.

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    Mute Enda
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 9:38 AM

    Touch a nerve did I lads? Keep wasting you’re lives away, no skin off my back.

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    Mute Del Haven
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 9:46 AM

    Your.
    I’m certainly not wasting my life away. I find gaming relaxes me, makes me forget the troubles at hand. Get this, I read books too.

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    Mute Angry Squirrel
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 10:58 AM

    Endas too busy wrecking the country to have the time to play a game and chill out. If he’s as good at gaming as he is at running the country yeah you get my drift. )

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    Mute Foghorn Leghorn
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 12:34 PM

    Tell me how the typical evening goes in your house Enda, and please be honest. What do you do to chill out and take the edge off the day?

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    Mute Dan Donato
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    Dec 3rd 2014, 9:06 AM

    Enda stop being a right old one and get with the times grandad

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    Mute Leslie Skinner
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 8:04 AM

    It’s hard enough to get the kids off these games as it is,don’t want them to see this,or it will be impossible

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    Mute Plantation Watch
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 8:12 AM

    Exactly, like the world needs more man-babies.

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    Mute Aaron O Connor
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 8:23 AM

    It’s better than watching tv.

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    Mute Ian McNally
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 8:27 AM

    I know the kids today with their “pop music” and “vidja games” in your day I bet you had a stick and were happy with that ehh?
    Luddites

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    Mute Angry Squirrel
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 9:03 AM

    All the wives and girlfriends will be on giving out about their men folk anytime now. I have a ps4 it’s an excellent piece of equipment for helping to just loose yourself for a while in a game. I will admit you don’t notice the time go though. My wife thinks I’m a man child I keep telling her there are millions of men out there that are gamers. Don’t smoke or gamble I do exercise and have a hobby and spend quality time with the family so what harm is it to loose yourself in a game every and then while she’s down watching X factor or I’m a celebrity or strictly come dancing or East Enders or emerdale etc etc,so you see girls lighten up on the lads and their gaming.

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    Mute Karen Gillen
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 10:18 AM

    Leslie: Teach your children time management skills, and if they are too young to self regulate then its your job to do it with them. Certain types of Games are excellent for children’s’ development – but like all things in life there must be moderation.

    Gaming isn’t just for kids or adult men – women are a huge part of the gaming market. I’m an avid gamer and playing online is a wonderful sort of socialising. When my kids are in bed, I get to hang out with my international gaming mates from the comfort of home, and I’ve travelled to spend time with some in countries and cities I might not have visited otherwise, and some have come and visited Ireland. No soaps or “reality” tv shite in our home – gamers for life!

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    Mute John Ó'Ríordán
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 10:20 AM

    You should try and get her into gaming. I found the Lego games as a great introduction to gaming for the girlfriend.

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    Mute Scorpionvenomm
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 12:10 PM

    Tv is terrible totally agree with you

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    Mute paulie_waulie
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 2:25 PM

    Well don’t play fifa if ur lookin to reduce stress levels u will jus end up most of the time with a bill for a smashed controller and they ain’t cheap nowadays 50/60 a pop for the new gen consoles…

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    Mute Del Haven
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    Dec 3rd 2014, 6:35 AM

    I so know what you mean.

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    Mute Michael O'Connor
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 8:18 AM

    What’s a PIP?

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    Mute Isaac Smyth
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 8:26 AM

    ” As part of my final year project, I was given the chance to develop a prototype app for the PIP, a biosensor which helps manage stress. “

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    Mute Hugh Gordon-Rection
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 9:45 AM

    What fantastic projects are you working on in your spare time Enda?

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    Mute Anto Byrne
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 9:31 AM

    It be adult’s buying them as there over 18. Buying them for there children in most cases. It’s not real life.

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    Mute Ian McNally
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 10:00 AM

    So the link I previously posted staying the average gamer is 31 you disagree with? You have any facts to back that up?

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    Mute Anto Byrne
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 9:58 AM

    Enda? I’m nothing like Enda. I’m working class and I work for cash in hand and collect the dole

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    Mute Foghorn Leghorn
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 12:33 PM

    Anto is clearly a troll account, that comment coupled with profile pic proves it. Don’t feed the troll

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    Mute Anto Byrne
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 9:22 AM

    Ian the majority buying those games. Even the 18 and over 1s are children. Foghorn, anto is short for Tony thanks. And Hugh, your girlfriend is write

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    Mute Ian McNally
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 9:27 AM

    Okay show me statistics proving that the majority buying them are children?

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    Mute Enda
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 9:37 AM

    Ian, I don’t understand what you’re getting at here? So because a lot of grown men like playing childish games that makes it somehow ok?

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    Mute Ian McNally
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 9:54 AM

    Games specifically designed for adults that are over 18 are childish?

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    Mute Foghorn Leghorn
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 12:31 PM

    I was a manager in Gamestop few years ago, the average age of game purchaser is late 30s, you’re talking hole anto

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    Mute Frank Carty
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    Dec 2nd 2014, 8:24 AM
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