In early March this year, the Leinster Express / Laois Live reported that a local mother was 'at her wits end' due to a lack of school spaces available for her child with additional needs.

Two months on, and 32 school applications later, the Portarlington mother of two has been forced to quit her job to take care of her son.

Six-year-old Issac was diagnosed with ASD, and has two special needs assistants due to his complex needs.

Issac should now be finishing senior infants, but he is still attending a Nano Nagle playschool due to a lack of places in ASD units.

Sofia Tyrell told the Leinster Express / Laois Live that her struggle to source assistance and a school place Issac resulted in the recent quitting of her job.

Pictured: Six year old Issac with mother Sofia Tyrell

"We still have nowhere for Issac, we are being asked to try mainstream schools," Ms Tyrell explained.

This is my second year of applying to schools and units and receiving refusals," she said.

"I have contacted the SENO (Special Educational Needs Organiser) to state that he has no placement for September, as all schools have stated that their admissions are closed.

"I've been asked if I have tried applying to mainstream schools, though Issac is pre-verbal, unable to hold a conversation, not toilet trained, cannot dress himself, struggles in large group settings and is a major flight risk," Ms Tyrell revealed.

"I would be setting him up for failure in an environment that doesn't suit his needs. The staff in the Nano Nagle he is in at present are an amazing bunch of women, they go above and beyond. I couldn't credit the amazing work his teacher has done with Issac, but his time is almost up there. 

"I have left work very recently to provide full time care for Issac. We have an amazing attachment, he keeps me going on the bad days. I understand that schools are full at present, and that there are policies surrounding how many children they can accommodate, but I am just asking for Issac to have a basic right to an education, for him to feel included and valued," she said.

Pictured: Six year old Issac has been 'ignored' says Mum Sofia

"I don't know what the future holds for my boy, but worrying about an educational placement should not have to be one of the challenges we face together. We still have so many other hurdles to face," Ms Tyrell said.

"Issac is currently in a unit for pre-primary school toddlers, as there are no available school places in primary school units or special schools. He should be going into senior infants now, and I have been told I might be waiting three years," she said. 

"Issac isn't toilet trained, he is non verbal and cannot look after his own basic needs, he doesn't even meet the criteria for mainstream," she said.

"It has been awful. I have applied to 32 schools all around, even though ideally he needs to be in a town near me. I have to collect him early from school so often, and he refuses to get on a bus. The anxiety is horrendous for us all," Ms Tyrell admitted.

"The Government recently announced that this September, every child in Ireland will have a school place. I have been shouting from the rooftops for so long, and I'm still being passed from person to person," she said.

"The level of resistance I am facing when I am simply looking for basic education for my son, would make you want to throw in the towel. Of all the schools I have applied to over the years, so many haven't even acknowledged my applications. Some won't call me back at all," she said.

"Issac struggles in a room with children who also have special needs, he has to be at a desk in a corner by himself. He can't even ask another child what their name is, or if they want to play. How is that suitable for him?" she asked.

"I never thought I would be in this position. I was constantly in trouble in work for having to go home early to pick up Issac if he was struggling in school, I've had to hand in my notice to take care of him full time. I don't know what I'm going to do come September," Ms Tyrell said.

"Issac has already received an extension to the school he is in, he is turning six and still in playschool. They aren't allowed to keep him for another year, though I wish they could. They are fantastic, the teacher knows him inside out, I'd be lost without her," she said.

"I left my job three weeks ago, and I am officially out of work for four days. I don't know what to do, it is having serious effects on my mental health.

"I will go to the Dáil, I will protest and fight wherever I have to- I'll do anything to get him an education," she said.

"People don't see the domino effect it has on our family, along with Issac. We have been forgotten about, my voice is almost gone from shouting," the Portarlington mother finished.

Shameful: Laois mother forced to 'quit job and homeschool' due to lack of places in ASD units