Home News Disappointment follows special needs decision

Disappointment follows special needs decision

Friday, 26 June 2009

NORTHISDE schools that appealed a Department of Education decision to cut special needs classes were left gutted last week when they were informed the cutbacks would be going ahead. Of the 49 schools across the country that appealed the decision to cut 128 classes, just 10 were retained. Local schools affected include St Joseph’s National School, Coolock, St Francis Junior National School, Priorswood, St Eithne’s National School, Edenmore, and St Helen’s Senior National School, Portmarnock, who have all lost their special needs classes.  Principal at St Eithne’s, Aileen Corboy, said she was disappointed with the Government’s decision. “But now is the time to see what support can be given to the children affected,” Ms Corboy told Northside People. “We are worn out and did all we could to have these cuts reversed; it is very disappointing but I can’t see this decision being reversed now. “There were lots of tears when the announcement was made that we would lose the special needs class. “Some of our pupils are moving on to second level but most will be staying with us. We will see what support we can give them.” Dublin North East TD Terence Flanagan (FG) called on Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe to reinstate the special needs teachers in September. “A mainstream class setting is not suitable for these students,” Deputy Flanagan argued. “These students have poor retention ability, limited attention span and poor adaptive behaviour among other things. “Students should be placed in a learning environment that reflects their needs.  “The students have all been assessed and recommended for these classes.” Deputy Flanagan believes the pupils affected will not be able for mainstream education and as a result, any progress they have made to date will be lost.  “The future of these students is now in serious doubt unless the minister reverses this cruel decision,” he added.   A spokesman for Minister for Education, Batt O'Keeffe, told Northside People that the department received proposals from 49 schools on the decision to end 128 special classes for pupils with a mild general learning disability. “This followed the minister's invitation to the schools affected to make a submission setting out a case, on educational grounds, to retain their special classes even though they had dropped below the required number of pupils to retain such classes,” he said. “In the case of 35 of the 49 schools, the decision to end special classes remains. “It should be noted that having their children included in the mainstream class is the desire of the vast majority of parents.” The spokesman said the Government is spending over e1 billion on special needs this year, almost one ninth of the entire education budget. “There is now over 19,000 staff in our schools working solely with children with special needs, including over 10,000 special needs assistants,” he added.