Mar 21, 2025, MSN: Parents to hold second 24-hour sleep-out in Dublin over ‘ongoing crisis’ in special education
Parents from around the country are coming together for a second time to stage a 24-hour sleep-out in front of Leinster House to protest at the lack of suitable special educational needs school places.
Parents, who have all received multiple letters of refusal for places in SEN schools, will gather at Dáil Éireann on April 2, which also marks World Autism Day.
The protest will begin at 2pm for their children who they say are being “locked out of education”.
One of the leading figures in the protest is Charlotte Cahill, whose daughter Cyra (5) has been refused a place in over 30 special educational needs schools.
“Sadly, we have had to make the decision to do another sleep-out as we are not being listened to at all,” she said.
“We have over 200 children across the country without an appropriate school place for September.
“We have asked multiple times to meet the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) and ministers with no solid response, so we have no option but to sleep out again.”
Ms Cahill has said that over 200 families have contacted them, receiving over 500 refusal letters.
Organisers of the protest are demanding that the Department of Education address the critical shortage of suitable SEN school places.
A spokesperson for the Department of Education said: “Enabling children with special educational needs to receive an education is a priority for this government.
“The NCSE is engaging with the parents concerned and will continue to work closely with them in identifying and securing education placements appropriate to their needs for September 2025.
“The vast majority of children with special educational needs are supported to attend mainstream classes with their peers.
“Where children with more complex needs require additional support, special classes and special school places are provided.
“Over the last few years, the department and the NCSE have introduced a number of initiatives to plan for and provide sufficient special class and special school places.
“These initiatives are bearing fruit, with almost 1,700 new special classes sanctioned and 11 special schools established over the last five years.
“A further five new special schools will open for the coming school year.
“Local special educational needs organisers (SENOs) remain available to assist and advise parents of children with special educational needs.”
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