|
|
Keaveney slates glaring
"contradiction"
21.07.08
INISHOWEN Senator
Cecilia Keaveney is seeking answers over an apparent
double standard that has seen special needs
assistant numbers drop in Inishowen schools when
they are on the rise nationally.
She said she was very unhappy that the tally of
special needs assistants (SNAs) in the peninsula
showed a glaring “contradiction against national
trends.” |
“I am concerned at the
significant drop over two years in supports when
statistics show that the Government have had a
policy of increasing numbers," said Senator Keaveney.
Currently, there are more than 9,800 SNAs in
primary, post-primary and special schools supporting
pupils with special care needs compared with
approximately 300 in 1998.
"The fact that there are also 19,000 staff in
schools |
 |
throughout the country
working with children with special needs and a
council set up to address the needs of special
education students, indicates the Fianna Fáil
emphasis on this issue. I am therefore very unhappy
that an agency supposed to be set up to help and
support special needs students have had to be asked
to review their actions in Inishowen," she added.
The Moville-based member of the Seanad said she
would await the outcome of a review process that had
been promised as a result of her recent
intervention.
"I know parents, students, teachers and other
professionals alongside me as a Government national
representative, wish to understand how our needs
have diminished at a time when there are no cuts or
caps on the numbers of SNAs. I want answers to that
issue now and a process in place into the future
that is inclusive in its decision making and cross
departmental in its implications," she added. |
|
