A 'suite of options' is needed for parents of children with special needs while schools are closed, a disability group has said.
Inclusion Ireland says some parents want their children back in classrooms as soon as possible - but others options are needed for children who can't return due to underlying health conditions.
The group is among the organisations that will meet Education Minister Norma Foley this afternoon to discuss the issues.
Schools were due to reopen today for children with special needs, but that was delayed following a Government U-turn on the partial reopening of schools.
Advocacy groups have warned that many skills impacted children have learnt in schools could be lost while schools are closed, and a child can become withdrawn or have anger outbursts.
Inclusion Ireland CEO Enda Egan told Newstalk Breakfast that different children have different needs.
He said: “One [option] would obviously be in-school education - however that isn’t an option for everyone. Home tuition [is another].
"The virtual option is not something that works for very many children with special education needs - around 60% of those kids find it impossible to learn virtually… so that’s not an option for very many.
“We also must remember that while the kids are in education, they receive other health therapies - and those health therapies have stopped. I think they need to be put back on the table in the home with immediate effect."
Mr Egan said he believes the Government understands the issues at play, and do want to do the right thing.
However, he suggested that some movement or support is needed for parents as early as today.
He said: “The numbers we’re looking at here in terms of special schools and special classes is around 18,000 [children].
"It’s a suite of options really that need to be on the table that parents can pick from - it would be important that starting from today parents get phone calls and get that support from either the teacher or SNAs in relation to home tuition."
