One of the first words recently spoken by an autistic six-year-old boy was 'school' but his parents have been repeatedly told there are no places for him to start junior infants.
Heartbroken Germaine and Alan Colgan have spent two years desperately searching for a school place for her son Daniel, but have been told all schools for children with autism are completely full.
Daniel, who lives with his parents in Dublin's Blanchardstown, is pre-verbal and has autism with additional needs and now has to stay at home, while other children his age have started 'big' school.
Germaine and Alan have tried in vain, all schools specifically for autism, even miles away from where he lives, but they continually get the same answer.
"While every other parent was buying books and school uniforms for the children, I was anxiously waiting for that phone call which never came, to tell me a place had been found," said Germaine.
"I just keep getting the same response from our Special Educational Needs Officer (SENO) - which is that they are working with the Department of Education to find Daniel a place.
"Daniel's psychology report recommends that he goes to a special school, where he can access both primary and post-primary education, but it seems to be impossible to get a place as there are so few schools.
"No-one is refusing to take Daniel, they just have no spaces left. They are full to capacity.
"I am so upset and frustrated that my child doesn't get to go to school because there is no place for him and his additional needs. In a world where it is supposedly okay not to be okay, how is this situation okay?
"How is it ok for him to be at home and not attend school? Why is he forgotten?
"If he didn't have autism, Tusla would be knocking down my door demanding to know why I haven't sent him to school. But it's okay to stay at home when he has a disability.
"I spent the summer reaching out to TDs and calling everyone who could possibly help. But no-one could or else they didn't try.
"I've been in government buildings, hearing empty promises, I've attended protests but nothing changes. Daniel is still at home.
"He was pre-verbal when he was at pre-school, which was kind enough to take him again last year, but he is too old now. But now, without much social interaction with children his own age, he is regressing and that is the saddest and scariest thing for a parent to watch.
"No-one will ever understand this journey until they are in it themselves, no-one will understand what a day in the life looks like for us fighting tooth and nail just for a basic human right that is education. It is soul-destroying.
"I remember the day I heard Simon Harris was going to be our next Taoiseach. I was so happy knowing that he knew the struggles for parents with autistic children because of his brother Adam.
"All us autistic mammies had hope that he was going to change the system. How wrong I was.
"My son is the most precious, gentle and friendly child, and he just loves interacting with people. He is well known in our community for being the friendliest little lad.
"He loved pre-school. He needs structure and a controlled environment to help achieve milestones in education and life skills.
"Daniel has recently started to use his voice and one of the first distinctive words he said was 'school,' indicating he wanted to go. How do I explain that to him?"
A spokesperson for the Department of Education said that the provision of appropriate school places for children with special educational needs is a priority for the government.
"Responsibility for ensuring the provision of special classes lies with the National Council for Special Education (NCSE) and as Minister of State with responsibility for Special Education and Inclusion, Minister Naughton is determined to ensure that all children who require a placement can access this as quickly as possible," they said.
The spokesperson added that Minister Naughton is meeting with the NCSE every week to discuss progress being made to ensure that every child has a school place for the 2024/25 school year.
"In response to an increased level of need for special education placements, the NCSE and the Department have worked with a number of schools over the summer period to provide extra capacity. It is expected that there will be further progress in relation to the admission of students into these additional places very shortly.
"In 2022, the government introduced urgent legislation which provides for the NCSE to direct a school to enrol a child with special educational needs. The NCSE have recently used this legal provision to direct two primary schools in Tipperary and Waterford to enrol children with special educational needs. The NCSE can consider the use of this provision in other areas if required.
"The NCSE also have a dedicated contact point for parents/guardians and regular updates are provided to parents/guardians of children who remain without the offer of a special education placement. The Department does not comment on individual cases."
