Mayo rural schools left 'struggling' to provide special education - TD

Mayo is struggling when it comes to ensuring people with disabilities can access inclusive, equality-based and free primary and secondary education on an equal basis with others in the communities where they live.

The point has been raised in the Oireachtas by Deputy Keira Keogh.

She elaborated: "We have lots of different rural schools and we are obviously trying to open special schools where the need.

"But the department is looking at the need as numbers.

"If you have a small rural school that is struggling to keep the numbers, it is not going to reach the need - but you have principals and teachers who are willing to open a special class, be that with two or three children.

"It is about looking at the need as not necessarily numbers, and that we need six or eight children to open the class.

"If you look in Mayo, you will see many special classes in bigger towns like Castlebar rather than in rural villages.

"I know many rural schools that would love to open a class to ensure children can go to school with their siblings and peers."