Dungarvan rallies for 20 children 'locked out of their education'
Massive crowd gathered in Dungarvan to demand action on school space shortage that will see 20 local children without places in September. Picture by Conor McGuiness, TD.
A large crowd turned out in Dungarvan for a peaceful protest demanding more places at St John’s Special School.
The event held on Wednesday evening saw parents, supporters and local representatives march from Grattan Square to the gates of St John’s Special School.
They were demanding action to address the school’s capacity problem that will see 20 local children without a place come September.
Organiser Rebecca Meehan told the Waterford News and Star that Dungarvan “really showed up” for the 20 children affected by the shortage of school places.
“The words are pretty much out there now. We are not stopping until we get through these gates. We are not stopping until our children are vindicated and until they get their constitutional right to an education, and it is a right as I said in the speech below, it's not a privilege and my son is not going to go without,” said Ms Meehan.
Waterford Sinn Fein TD Conor McGuiness said the success of Wednesday’s demonstration was a credit to Ms Meehan.
He said he and Deputy David Cullinane had forced a debate on the issue in the Dáil and would continue to advocate for the families affected.
In the year 2025, where we have 20 children in a town will be told sorry, we don’t have room for you come September, and all that uncertainty and all that hurt and not knowing that is really unfair,” said Deputy McGuiness.
Ms Meehan told us that for her son Jay, who turned five the day of the protest an education is “invaluable.”
“It increases his opportunity to be independent, and it decreases the amount of vulnerability in his life because as he gets older and goes into adults, and that’s my concern as his mother and for the other 19 other families as well you,” said Ms Meehan.
Deputy McGuiness praised the work that happens at St John’s School.
He said they provide a service above and beyond what a mainstream school can accommodate.
“It’s a fantastic school embedded in the community with tremendous staff and a level of wrap-around care and attention for each individual child. It is no wonder parents want to send their children here, said Deputy McGuiness.
The deputy is asking the Government to address the wider issue, but in the meantime, ensure the local spaces are available for September.
At this month’s sitting of Dungarvan-Lismore District Council Cllr Kate O’Mahoney asked that the council write to the Minister for Education to address the capacity issue.
She said she and her colleagues have been engaging with the parents of the children “locked out of their education.”
“This issue has affected families all over Dungarvan and the Lismore area and it has placed an undue amount of stress on both parents and the children themselves" she said.
“I believe every child deserves equal access to education and the same opportunities, and I hope we can all come together to ensure support for these children and their families," she added.
Leas-Cathaoirleach Damian Geoghegan said that the school has had expansion works, but there is still not enough spaces.
“This is definitely a campaign worth fighting,” said Cllr Geoghegan.
Fine Gael TD for Waterford and Minister of State John Cummins has met with and remains in contact with the Minister for Education Helen McEntee and the NCSE to ask for interim modular accommodation at St John’s.
He said he expects new special classes to be “sanction across Waterford” in the coming weeks.
“The availability of appropriate and sufficient school places for children with additional educational needs is of paramount importance and is an area that I am extremely passionate about," he said.
“I am acutely aware of the shortage of school places across the county, and I have been working with individual parents impacted by class shortages as well as schools and the NCSE over a prolonged period of time," he added.
“I will remain in contact with all stakeholders as we collectively work together on this critically important matter."
