Frustrated parents of children with autism will march on the Dail at the end of the month calling for more school places for their kids.
Campaigners are calling for more Autistic Spectrum Disorder [ASD] units in primary and secondary schools across the country and an end to the "lottery" of securing appropriate education for their children.
Advocacy group Enough is Enough Every Voice Counts say parents have been left "stressed, frustrated and worried" about the lack of education options available.
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Group spokeswoman Linda Comerford said: “When children start school it's usually an exciting and proud time for families watching their children start a new chapter in their lives.
"But for parents of children who require access to special schools and ASD classes that offer education to children with autism, intellectual disability and other complex needs, the situation for hundreds of parents is that they are left stressed, frustrated and worried because they are unable to access an appropriate school placement for their children."
Dublin Live has previously reported on a number of families who have had difficulty securing school places for children with autism.
One worried Dublin mum said the pressure was putting a massive strain on families.
She said: "Families are breaking up over this. It is very hard on the poor children. You're going to have an awful lot of separated families because it's so hard."
Minister for Education Joe McHugh has previously said he is satisfied that there are sufficient places in ASD units nationwide.
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He said: “While it is not always possible or practical that a special class-placement would be available in a child’s local school, the NCSE has informed my Department that, in general, they are satisfied that there are sufficient ASD special class-placements to meet existing demand nationally."
But this claim was blasted by campaigners, who claimed that some children were offered places in schools miles from their homes.
Ms Comerford compared the system for allocating places to the National Lottery.
She added: "This is not restricted to education when we access the larger demographics accessing disability services.
"It is totally unacceptable that children with disabilities are required to apply to schools up to 30km away or further, rather than have equal access to local schools that need to be resourced to meet their needs.
"We need to lift these barriers to create real equality for all."
The protest will take place on Tuesday, April 30 at 11am.
