Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald has called on Minister Heather Humphreys to make a firm commitment that a special school will be delivered for Monaghan and to tell parents and families when they will have it.

Ms McDonald challenged the Minister on the long running issue at Leaders Questions in the Dail this afternoon.

The Sinn Féin Leader said:

“For years, it has been plainly evident that Monaghan needs a special school. At least one site has been offered as a potential location for such a school. But, Minister, your government simply says you are reviewing the situation.

“You still haven’t stated the criteria for such a review. You haven’t explained how some counties with a similar profile have a number of special schools and yet Monaghan has none.

“While you are reviewing, families In Monaghan are forced to continue telling their stories, forced to approach politicians to beg for appropriate school places for our sons and daughters.

“Parents of children with special needs must fight every day, in every county. But you’ll surely agree that in Monaghan, they have had to fight even harder than most.

“Will you today, Minister, commit that Monaghan will have a special school and tell those parents when it will get it.”

Speaking following the exchange, local Sinn Féin TD, Matt Cathy said:

“It is very disappointing that the government is still hiding behind a review and has doubled-down on their failure to deliver a special school for Monaghan.

“In June, Simon Harris promised in the Dáil that he would meet with the families from SNAP. This meeting has still not taken place. Why is that?

“A review at this stage, years after families first called for a special school, is seen as nothing more than a delaying mechanism.

“A special school is needed. If the Taoiseach met these families, he’d realise that.”