Seven-year-old special needs pupil forced to make four-hour round trip on bus

A seven-year-old child is forced to make a four-hour round trip on a bus to attend a special school in a neighbouring county because there are no facilities locally, the Dáil has heard.

Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald said parents of children with special needs in Co Monaghan have fought a long campaign to have a special school established in the county.

Co Monaghan is one of only two counties nationwide without a special needs school.

A number of parents, who formed local support group Special Needs Active Parents (Snap), attended Leinster House and watched proceedings from the public gallery.

Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys, Fine Gael TD for Cavan and Monaghan, said a review of demand for special education services is under way and will be completed in the late autumn.

“Parents of children with special needs must fight every day in every county, but surely you will agree that, in Monaghan, they’ve had to fight harder than most?” Ms McDonald…