Fianna Fáil Leader, Micheál Martin TD, has reiterated his call for the Government to immediately address the fact that hundreds of second level students with intellectual disabilities will have nowhere to go in September.
Deputy Martin raised the issue in May when he called on the Government in the Dáil to ensure that the hundreds of young school leavers with intellectual disabilities have access to placements in centres across the country.
Deputy Martin commented: “The additional funding provided every year to facilitate an increased absorption of students with disabilities from second level has not been provided in 2012. This is causing immense distress across the country.
“153 young adults with intellectual disabilities and/or autism will have no further education available to them in September. We need to see immediate action from the Minister with responsibility for Disability, Kathleen Lynch. Of the 660 young adults in the country leaving second-level education, one in four have no placement available to them come September.
“What is more concerning is the fact that these young adults have no say on where they will be placed. There is a distinct lack of planning on this and the Minister needs to act quickly to ensure these young adults have a secure and definite placement by September.