Branches highlight concern over shortage of special needs resources

THE shortage of special teachers for children with learning disabilities dominates the motions submitted for next month’s primary teachers conference.

Of more than 300 motions submitted for the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) annual congress, 67 relate to special needs education. The preliminary agenda indicates the situation is of more concern to teachers than issues such as pay and conditions, training and industrial relations.

Around 6,000 primary pupils are still waiting for teaching and other resources which their schools applied for last summer and earlier. More than 30 of the union’s 180 branches have put forward motions calling on the Department of Education to address the problem.