Children with special needs being left behind because they are poor

Posted on June 16, 2009 at 07:51 PM

Back in February the Minister for Education and Science, Batt O'Keeffe TD, closed down 118 special needs classes throughout the country; classes where children with mild learning disabilities were enabled to progress their education at their own pace.

Today during Leaders' Questions the Labour Leader Eamon Gilmore TD questioned the Taoiseach about the axing of these classes and urged the Government to reverse the decision calling it a 'cost saving measure' which has caused huge concern and anxiety particularly to the parents of the children.

"There is no educational justification for closing down these classes. The saving at the time was estimated to be €7m. What strikes me about the list of schools that have been refused is where they are located. They are virtually located in disadvantage areas, parts of Tallaght, Ballyfermot, Edenmore, the list goes on.

"The child of someone who is well off will have the money to hire the speech therapist, to hire the additional teachers to get them the extra help, the grinds and maybe even well off enough to be sent to a private school. These are children who will not get the educational leg up that they need unless it is provided through the State school system, this is their chance.

"They are being left behind because they are poor... The amount of money being saved is not huge. I appeal to you Taoiseach... have this issue revisited."

Tagged with Education