Cork TD slams ‘postcode lottery’ in ASD places for city schools

A Cork TD has condemned what he described as a “postcode lottery of ASD class school places in Cork city” for secondary school students.

Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central Thomas Gould said that students in large areas across the city are struggling to access autism spectrum disorder (ASD) classes due to a lack of supply.

ASD classes are offered at five secondary schools in Cork City North East, five secondary schools in Cork City North West, four secondary schools in Cork City South Central, five secondary schools in Cork City South East, and three secondary schools in Cork City South West.

Forced

Mr Gould said this often leaves students forced to leave their area and attend different schools to their siblings, which he said “sends completely the wrong message to children and their peers”.

“We should be teaching young people about inclusivity and empowerment,” said Mr Gould. 

“This only teaches them about difference and exclusion.

“I am appalled at the clear failure to properly resource ASD classes in secondary schools, particularly in Ballincollig. This is the ward with the highest population and yet the lowest number of classes. I can’t wrap my head around that.”

Response 

In response to a parliamentary question submitted by the TD, asking the minister for education for the number of ASD places available in secondary schools in Cork city and county for September 2024, the minister of state at the Department of Education, Hildegarde Naughton, said enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is “a priority for this Government”.

“The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers,” Ms Naughton stated.

“Where children with more complex needs require additional supports, special classes and special school places are provided.”

“Four hundred and two new special classes have been sanctioned by the NCSE [National Council for Special Education] for the 2024/25 school year; of these 67 are in Cork, 43 at primary level and 24 at post primary level.

“This brings to 563 the number of special classes in the county — 491 of these are autism classes with a teacher/student ratio of 1:6, 143 of these are at post primary level.

“The NCSE is confident that through the provision of the newly sanctioned classes and vacancies in existing classes, there is sufficient places to meet the needs of all children known to them for September 2024.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Education told The Echo that the NCSE has already begun forward-planning work in relation to providing further special-class and special-school capacity in Cork for the 2025/2026 school year and beyond.