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A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>Rebecca O’Riordan of disability advocacy group FUSS: <span class="contextmenu emphasis"> '</span>It really is loaves and the fishes because even if these teams were fully staffed, the staff-to-family ratios make it impossible to provide a safe and effective service.' File picture: Jim Coughlan</p>

munster

Disability services for Cork children 'all but shut down' due to staff shortages

'The situation is dire but there is just no urgency in addressing it', says Cork campaigner

<p>The survey of more than 100 schools centred on the programme, which caters for children with complex needs. It has previously been criticised for low take-up among schools. Picture: Larry Cummins</p>

news

Staff burnout key reason for schools not doing Summer Programme

<p>Leah Forde and her mother Michelle at home in Cork. <span class="contextmenu emphasis CaptionCredit">Picture: Denis Minihane</span>
</p>

spotlight

'School is what brings out the best in Leah'

West Cork pupils forced to commute for up to four hours daily over lack of special school

munster

West Cork pupils forced to commute for up to four hours daily over lack of special school

Ofsted inspection report

news

Record number of special education classes to open this September

School stock

news

Therapists reinstated in special schools from September

'We've been left to rot' says mother of Cork teen with complex needs

'We've been left to rot' says mother of Cork teen with complex needs

The mother of a Cork teenager who has complex needs said she feels like the family has been “left to rot” with no support over the summer.

Fri, 19 Aug, 2022

Moves to compel schools to open special classes for 130 children without a place

Moves to compel schools to open special classes for 130 children without a place

Education Act gives the minister the power to compel a school to open a special class and Special Education Minister Josepha Madigan confirmed stage one of legal process has been completed

Tue, 31 May, 2022

Free School plans

New special school to open in Rochestown

Three other Cork special schools will expand their places

Wed, 23 Mar, 2022

Free School plans

Just 20% of special school students had access to summer programme

Some 8,100 children in special schools were eligible for the programme this year

Mon, 08 Nov, 2021

Cork school faces setback in quest for new permanent home

Cork school faces setback in quest for new permanent home

Owenabue Educate Together National School in Carrigaline was told last week that the site which was to be its permanent base would be given to a new special school instead

Wed, 21 Apr, 2021

Parents and teachers welcome retention of speech and language services at Cork school

Parents and teachers welcome retention of speech and language services at Cork school

Deaf and hard of hearing students at a Douglas school faced the loss of on-site speech and language therapy before a u-turn by Disabilities Minister Anne Rabbitte

Mon, 19 Apr, 2021

Cork school for deaf avoids service cuts due to ministerial u-turn

Cork school for deaf avoids service cuts due to ministerial u-turn

Disabilities Minister Anne Rabbitte paused a scheme that would have removed therapists from special schools in a move that has been welcomed by parents and teachers

Fri, 09 Apr, 2021

Cork school appeals to keep in-school speech and language therapist in place for deaf pupils

Cork school appeals to keep in-school speech and language therapist in place for deaf pupils

St Columba's in Douglas has a facility for 34 deaf and hard-of-hearing pupils from all over Cork but a new Government scheme could see them miss class time to access certain facilities in their own communities

Tue, 06 Apr, 2021

'Forgotten by the system': Children with dual diagnosis left in limbo for Cork secondary school place

'Forgotten by the system': Children with dual diagnosis left in limbo for Cork secondary school place

Children with a dual diagnosis of autism and an intellectual disability are being offered home tuition for September as they have no secondary school place in Cork

Wed, 17 Mar, 2021

'Our children can't vote': Parents fear children with special needs won't recover skills lost while out of school

'Our children can't vote': Parents fear children with special needs won't recover skills lost while out of school

Partial reopening of special schools on February will see a maximum number of 50% of students attending on alternate days, something parents of those with the most profound disabilities say does not go far enough

Fri, 05 Feb, 2021

School stock

Mallow mother of two kids with intellectual disabilities fears special needs schools will not reopen

Elaine Healy from Mallow, told RTÉ radio’s Morning Ireland that she had been thrilled to hear the news, but was trying not to get her hopes up.

Tue, 02 Feb, 2021

Free School plans

Special schools to reopen on February 11 after unions and Department agree deal

Planning will also now get underway for the wider reopening of schools in line with decreasing daily case numbers of the virus.

Mon, 01 Feb, 2021

Parent of child with disabilities tells of his regression with schools closed

Parent of child with disabilities tells of his regression with schools closed

Eight-year-old Manus McNamara, who has severe autism and an intellectual disability, is becoming aggressive and violent due to the lack of routine, his mother says

Fri, 29 Jan, 2021

Coronavirus - Sun May 3, 2020

Jess Casey: Stop saying ‘schools are safe’ if you want them to ever reopen again

Confused public health messaging has upturned the reopening of special schools

Thu, 21 Jan, 2021

Ofsted inspection report

Government and unions urged to re-engage for the sake of special education

Advocacy groups have written to Taoiseach Michéal Martin seeking a meeting to discuss the range of support students need

Wed, 20 Jan, 2021

Free School plans

Covid-19 cases must drop before schools can reopen, say unions

Fórsa and the Irish National Teachers Organisation are due to meet with the Department of Education on Thursday to discuss the current situation with regards to special education

Wed, 20 Jan, 2021

'Trying to parent in lockdown is a big ask – it's overwhelming when you are your child's carer too'

'Trying to parent in lockdown is a big ask – it's overwhelming when you are your child's carer too'

With schools shut and many essential therapies on hold, some parents are trying to find a balance between parenting, homeschooling and caring for their child's additional needs.

Wed, 20 Jan, 2021

'Schools don't need extra infection control measures' despite Covid-19 variants

'Schools don't need extra infection control measures' despite Covid-19 variants

Thousands of teachers, principals and SNAs told no changes were needed to the current infection prevention measures for schools, despite the new variants of Covid-19

Mon, 18 Jan, 2021

Free School plans

Special schools and classes at primary level could reopen next Thursday

However, arrangements have yet to be made for post-primary students

Thu, 14 Jan, 2021

Families 'devastated' over special schools U-turn, say disability groups

Families 'devastated' over special schools U-turn, say disability groups

The groups have sought an urgent meeting with Norma Foley, the Minister for Education

Fri, 08 Jan, 2021