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Schools hopeful following ministerial change

Wednesday, 04 June 2008

NORTHSIDE schools that have been campaigning for funding and new building projects have expressed hope that the recent change in the Minister for Education post could help their cause.
New Minister for Education, Batt O’Keeffe, has been urged to help a number of dilapidated and special schools in the area.
Stella Downes, principal of Springdale National School, Raheny, which is in desperate need of a new school building, said she hoped the change in minister could prove beneficial in the long term.
The desperate situation at Springdale featured in Northside People earlier this year.
Ms Downes revealed she was being forced to use her car as an office due to the lack of space at the school.
She expressed shock when Springdale did not appear on the most recent School Building Programme list despite repeated promises of a new building from the Department of Education.
Ms Downes said she was keeping her fingers crossed that Minister O’Keeffe would now act on the school’s concerns.
“I am also hoping the new minister can fully understand the depth of anger there is amongst parents and staff at the school over our situation,” she declared.
“We will certainly be making the new minister aware of what we are in need of.
“My main hope is that the School Building Programme can become more transparent so that schools know exactly where they stand in relation to it.”
Meanwhile, a school for children with autism on the Northside has also expressed its hope that the new minister will have full recognition of its case.
Achieve ABA in Donaghmede, a school set up by a group of parents of children with autism, has been campaigning to be fully funded and recognised by the department.
Brian Murnane, whose son Luke, attends Achieve ABA, said he was pleased a new minister has been put in place, because he claimed the school never saw eye to eye with former Minister for Education, Mary Hanafin, on her approach to education for children with autism.
“I think anybody new who comes into a position such as this can look at a situation with a fresh pair of eyes,” Mr Murnane stated.
He said Achieve ABA was hopeful that it would eventually be merged into the department’s pilot programme of schools that offered Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA).
“This is being discussed at the moment through Irish Autism Action and the department and it remains to be seen if a solution can be found,” Mr Murnane added.
A spokeswoman at the Department of Education said the proposed project at Springdale National School was at an advanced stage of architectural planning.
“The further progression of the project will be considered on an ongoing basis in the context of the department's multi-annual School Building and Modernisation Programme,” she stated.
Speaking in the Dáil recently about the ABA pilot scheme, Minister O’Keeffe said that since July 2007, there have been 18 meetings with the autism groups in relation to the commitment in the current programme for Government to long-term funding for the centres that are in the ABA pilot scheme.
“The discussions have been wide-ranging and have included curricular issues, funding and staffing,” Minister O’Keeffe stated.
“I am pleased to advise that the discussions between the autism groups and my department are progressing well.
“My department is very anxious to finalise these discussions so that permanent arrangements can be put in place as soon as possible.”
However, Minister O’Keeffe said it had been agreed not to disclose the details of the discussions while they are ongoing.
“It should be noted that discussions are taking place with Irish Autism Action in relation to 12 of the 13 centres and separate direct discussions are taking place between the department and the remaining pilot centre,” Minister O’Keeffe added.

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