Fórsa has welcomed the decision not to proceed with the establishment of proposed special education centres. The proposal was strongly criticised by Fórsa, advocacy groups and parents, with some saying it amounted to the segregation of children with special education needs.

The controversial plan involved the creation of five centres in the Dublin area, on a temporary basis, which would provide an education for dozens of vulnerable children who have not yet secured a special class place in a mainstream school.

Fórsa’s head of education Andy Pike welcomed the decision, and said there’s a real problem for many families who cannot find a school place for their child: “It’s clear from the reaction to this initiative that the Government miscalculated and misread the situation.

“What parents and students want is an opportunity to participate in our school’s system in the same manner as do other students.

“The answer to this crisis must be based on an inclusive approach, providing access to schools for students with additional care needs, with SNA supports in mainstream and special classes.

“It’s now time to use legislation to ensure schools offer places all students including those with additional care needs,” he said.

In a recent media interview the higher education minister Simon Harris said that building special education centres for children with autism, instead of guaranteeing them school places, was not “where we want to be and it is not where we need to be.”

A Government source acknowledged that the scale of criticism revealed there was no public support for the proposal, and it was subsequently scrapped.

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