Brian O'Connell

And there's obviously uncertainty now around where they will actually get somewhere for him.

I mean, it's not even a postcode lottery because if they're looking at different parts of Dublin, they still can't secure a place.

She has contacted the minister responsible.

I'm going to bring you an update on that shortly.

But I did ask Alison, what impact was all of this having on her family?

It must be hugely stressful.

I know obviously in your day to day work, you deal with cases like this sometimes, but when it's on your own doorstep, it must be incredibly stressful.

What do you think government or the Minister for Education should be doing that they're not doing?

I spoke with Derval MacDonagh, CEO of Inclusion Ireland, and I asked her first, what should happen really in an ideal world when a child with additional needs needs a school place?

Where are we in the last 10 years?

Have we provided better access for parents and children or are we going backwards?

Can everything that's done in a special school be done in a local school if the resourcing is right?

The department doesn't comment on individual cases.

I'd shared some of the details of Alison's case with her permission.

However, the minister responsible, Michael Moynihan, is aware of the issues raised.

His office is waiting on an update from the NCSE.

They're the body responsible for the provision of special education placements.

And the Minister would be willing to meet the family in relation to this.

Now, in terms of the general picture, Budget 2026 provided for 400 new special classes and at least 400 new special school places.

These new special classes would mean there'd be over 4,000 special classes in 2026, 2027.