A mother of a 13-year-old boy with Down Syndrome and ASD is "fighting" to find him a secondary school place after being rejected 17 times so far.
Last week, Marita Coyne and her son Robbie McGrath walked out of his primary school hand-in-hand after his graduation.
It was not the moment of joy it should have been for Ms Coyne, however, as Robbie still does not have a place in secondary school for September.
Robbie has a dual diagnosis of Down Syndrome and Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and Ms Coyne said she has been trying to secure a school place for him for the last two years.
"He should be transitioning into his new secondary school – we don't have any idea where that's going to be or even if there is going to be a school for him," she told The Pat Kenny Show.
"This journey has been going on for years."
Mainline education
Ms Coyne said Robbie was in a mainstream primary school, as it was believed this would be best for his socialisation.
"At the time, we didn't know of his diagnosis of ASD because that only happened before Christmas," she said.
"Now he has got to the point where he's going in a different direction – he needs different help.
"Robbie is a flight risk. He has very limited danger awareness. He needs help with personal care ... essentially, he's nonverbal."
Ms Coyne said she applied to 12 special education schools in Dublin and its surrounding areas for Robbie.
"I've applied for every school I could think of; every school I've researched, every school I've been given from the National Council for Special Education (NCSE)," she said.
'Behind the scenes'
Ms Coyne said the Minister for Education, Norma Foley and the NCSE have told her that they are "working behind the scenes" to secure a place for Robbie.
"The reality is, I'm sitting here talking to you with no school place for my son," she said.
"I feel that no family should have to go through that, irrespective of what is going on behind the scenes.
"I've had to fight this journey for seven months and it's a scary place to be for any parent, but in particular, parents with a child with additional needs.
"You shouldn't have to fight that hard for a fundamental right that a child is entitled to an education in this country."
Marita Coyne and her son Robbie McGrath (Photo provided by Marita Coyne)Responses
Ms Coyne said she has received a variety of different reasons for rejection from the schools.
"There are no places, he's on a waiting list, [or] we are out of the catchment area. Perhaps the school facilities don't suit his complex needs – they're the main responses I've been receiving," she said.
"I am getting information, statements that have come through with regard to what's coming down the line and what's happening, but I need it now and my son needs it now."
'It's no surprise'
Ms Coyne said she has "lost count" of the number of public representatives she has contacted.
"I've got in touch with every politician that will even look at me sideways," she said.
"Robbie was diagnosed when he was born – that diagnosis was 13 years ago. That diagnosis has not changed, it will not change.
"Why is there not something in place? Obviously, he's been through eight years of primary school. It's no surprise he has to go to secondary school.
"He's entitled to this; he's entitled to have the care that he needs."
