Parents of more than 15 autistic children who have been unable to secure a school place this year have gathered to protest outside the Dáil.

Newstalk reported earlier this week that at least 17 children with additional educational needs in the Dublin 15 area have been left without a school place.

The parents told Lunchtime Live that they had applied to around 30 schools across Dublin – and been rejected from every one.

They voiced fears that their children would regress without the educational supports they desperately need.

Parents of autistic children protest outside the Dáil about a lack of school places. Image: Eabha Casey/Newstalk

Protesting outside the Dáil this afternoon. Parents told Newstalk that they feel the Government is turning a ‘blind eye’ to their children’s predicament.

Dana and Val Thuiller said their son, Louis (13), should be heading to secondary school in September - but he hasn't been accepted yet.

They said they are “just shattered” by the situation.

“Were just baffled as to why nobody can accommodate him now at this point” said Dana.

“It is not like they didn’t know he was coming – he has had a diagnosis 10 years so you know, where are the provision being made?”

"This has to change"

She said there has been a huge increase in awareness about autism in Ireland over the last 20 years – but successive government has failed to act.

“I would say to the Government you know, what if one in 36 kids was going blind?” said Dana.

“Do you think people would be accepting it?

“This has to change because all this acceptance has led to a situation where our kids are just not being accounted for.”

“We are all in trouble if the Department of Education can’t do simple mathematics,” said Val.

“How many children have special needs and next year, how many children will need special needs places – that is as simple as it is.”

This morning’s protest saw the parents holding large posters of their children to bring home the message to politicians that they should not be invisible and have a right to education.

Carol Leonard and Stephen Keenan protest outside the Dáil about a lack of school places. Image: Eabha Casey/Newstalk

Carol Leonard said she has applied to multiple schools in their area and outside their area – but her son Noah still has “nowhere to go” in September.

She said Noah has had “no help” from the State since he was diagnosed.

She said he was privately diagnosed and when they sent the report to the HSE they heard nothing back.

“Noah is five-years-old,” she said. “He is non-verbal, he tries to talk but an AAC device would bring him on.

“If Noah doesn’t have a school place in September he will lose everything he has gained in playschool.”

"Heartbreaking"

Carol said it is “heartbreaking” that parents are forced to protest for a “human right that our children are entitled to”.

“They are entitled to this – it is taking away a human right,” she said.

“If I didn’t send one of my other children to school, I would be in trouble but yet it is alright for Noah to be left at home because he has a disability?

“I just don’t see how it is fair at all. It is not fair.”

The parents are continuing to campaign for a major increase in special education funding right across the country.

Reporting from Eabha Casey.