INISHOWEN Councillor
Pádraig MacLochlainn has commended a local group of
campaigning parents of special needs children.
The parents from all around the peninsula are
fighting for the right to appeal the removal or
denial of a special needs assistant for their
children.
Speaking after attending a packed meeting organised
by the parents in the Strand Hotel, Ballyliffin,
last Monday night, Cllr Mac Lochlainn said:
"I wish to publicly commend and offer my full
support to these courageous parents. The huge
attendance at their public meeting last Monday night
speaks volumes about the mood across Inishowen on
this issue," said Cllr. MacLochlainn.
"The parents, with the full support of the schools
across the peninsula, want the right to appeal
controversial decisions by the special education
needs organiser (SENO) to remove or deny the
allocation of special needs assistants (SNAs) to
their children."
The Buncrana-based town and county councillor said
it was "remarkable" that one person could be given
the power to overrule a multi disciplinary team of
professionals and deny the support to special needs
children that their parents and schools seek.
"What is even more remarkable is that this person is
not accountable to anyone affected by the decision,"
he explained.
Cllr. MacLochlainn said he had now briefed his
party's education spokesperson, Senator Pearse
Doherty who would raise the matter in the Seanad.
"The Government must now immediately enact the
Education For Persons With Special Educational Needs
Act 2004 (EPSEN Act) to ensure the right of these
families and schools to appeal controversial
decisions by SENOs," he added. |
