Demand Immediate Action on Education, SLT, and OT Supports for Children in Ireland

Thousands of children in Ireland are being failed by the government’s failure to provide adequate education and therapeutic supports. Families are left waiting years for essential Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) and Occupational Therapy (OT), and many children with additional needs cannot access a suitable school place. This crisis is unacceptable.

Waiting Times for Assessments: As of early 2025, over 14,000 children are awaiting assessments of need, with many waiting beyond the six-month target period. Some children have been waiting up to two years or more for evaluations.

Access to Education: A mother from Dublin faced 22 rejections in her efforts to secure a special school spot for her daughter, highlighting the scarcity of appropriate educational placements for children with autism. 126 children with special educational needs (SEN) were without a school place at the start of the academic year in 2024

Children's Disability Services: As of October 2023, there were 817.23 vacancies in Children's Disability Network Teams (CDNTs), impacting the delivery of essential services to children with disabilities.

We demand that the Irish Government:

1. End the SLT and OT waiting lists by hiring more therapists and increasing funding for services. We as families want individualised therapy.

2. Ensure every child has a school place by expanding special education provisions and autism classes. Building and staffing more specialist schools. More Sna's and training for staff.

3. Implement the EPSEN Act in full to uphold children's legal rights.

The Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act 2004 is a key piece of legislation in Ireland aimed at enhancing the educational experience for individuals with special educational needs. The Act emphasizes the importance of inclusive education, ensuring that children with special needs are educated alongside their peers in mainstream schools whenever possible

Sign this petition to demand action from the Minister for Education, the HSE, and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. Every child deserves an education and the support they need to thrive.