The parents of children with special educational needs in West Cork say it’s not feasible for their children to travel to the city for school.
The 'West Cork Special School' group says some students are travelling to the city from as far west as Ballydehob - which is almost 100 kilometres away - and are calling for a dedicated special primary and secondary school to be built in the region.
Pupils and students with special educational needs in the region are taught in dedicated units in mainstream schools, however parents say the units are not suitable for every child with special needs.
Speaking to RedFM News, Emma Howlin from Clonakilty say the journey to the city is taking a toll on her 9 year old daughter Tessa:
"We had two primary school placements down here and neither of them worked for us. We looked beyond and we found a place in Cork. Even in the four weeks that she's been there, it's fantastic -the level of understanding and knowledge is amazing. But she has to travel for an hour on a bus twice a day and it's exhausting. And even though she's not a child who's generally tired, you can see it in other ways. You know, her mind is exhausted. It's really hard".
