Issue of North Cork students having to travel to the City to access education raised in the Dail

Parents of children with intellectual disabilities in North Cork are increasingly being forced to travel to Cork city to access education for their children in special schools

The matter was raised in the Dail by Deputy Sean Sherlock who is calling for more additional needs education units and supports across North Cork and Charleville in particular.

There are 421 special classes across Cork and a special school is to be established in Carrigtwohill and due to open in the coming school year.

Minister of State at the Department of Health Mary Butler says a priority of the Government is to support children with intellectual disabilities to receive an education.

Deputy Butler outlined how 71 of the new special classes in main stream schools sanctioned for this coming year will be in Cork.

“There are currently 421 special classes in Co. Cork. Of these, 300 special classes are at primary level, and 121 at post primary.

“Of the 328 new special classes announced for the new school year, 71 are in Co. Cork, with 53 at primary level and 18 at post primary level.

“It is estimated that 15 of these new classes sanctioned for the coming year will be in the north Cork region.”