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26 Mar 2026
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26 Mar 2026
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This action underscores the urgent need for change in special education policy and resource allocation, as families continue to fight for the dignity and rights of their children
A call out to parents in Co Kildare and the rest of Ireland has been issued, in a final effort to draw urgent attention to the ongoing crisis in special education.
A group of 54 parents that have been without suitable SEN school placements for their children will stage a 24-hour sleep out at the Department of Education.
Starting at 1pm on February 28, the protest comes after repeated pleas for action that have gone unanswered by the Department, leaving families with no other recourse. Their children, along with many others with special educational needs continue to be either placed in inappropriate settings or left without a school placement entirely.
The families, who have long sought sustainable solutions and support for their children, now feel compelled to take dramatic action to highlight the severity of the issue.
"We have exhausted all conventional channels, and this sleep out is our last resort," said one of the protesting parents.
"Our children deserve safe, inclusive, and appropriately resourced educational environments. The inaction we've experienced is not only heart-breaking, it's unacceptable."
READ MORE: Over €450k in funding allocated for Kildare Sports Partnership
The protest aims to:
• Shine a light on the critical shortage of suitable SEN school places for the 54 identified children and others like them.
• Urge the Department of Education to implement immediate and effective measures to address the gaps in support.
• Demand transparency and accountability in the allocation of resources to special education.
The sleep out will continue for 24 hours, with parents remaining at the Department's premises to ensure their voices are heard and that the plight of their children is not ignored any longer.
This action underscores the urgent need for change in special education policy and resource allocation, as families continue to fight for the dignity and rights of their children.
For further information you can contact: Charlotte Cahill 085-1170240, Erica Boyce 085-1292129, or Susan Reid 087-986 7437.
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