‘Darragh’s life will fall apart’ over cuts
Darragh, the eldest of her children, suffers from ADHD and dyslexia.
The teenager from Knocklyon has a history of epileptic fits and is classed as having mild to moderate developmental issues.
Since the age of eight, the now 16-year-old pupil at St Joseph’s school in Tallaght, Dublin, has been supported by a special needs assistant, helping to keep him in education and providing him the opportunity of a future with some form of qualification.
His mother Jean saw the good the SNA system was doing for her son. But the situation is set to change, for the sake of budget cutbacks. Yesterday, the board of St Joseph’s was formally contacted by the Department of Education, who requested the names of four SNAs who must tender their resignations today.
Four more SNAs will be lost by mid-April, with 12 in total going by the end of the year. St Joseph’s is a special needs school for children with moderate developmental and social issues, but over the coming months its SNA level will be cut from 17 to just five.
As a result, the supports needed for those benefiting from the service will be stretched to unbearable levels. Jean Smith fears what will happen to her son.
“Darragh’s gone through school, he won’t be sitting the Leaving Cert but he is doing a FETAC course.
“He’s built up a lovely relationship with the SNA who’s looking after him; that doesn’t happen often for him, but we don’t know what will happen now.
“I haven’t the time to look after him 24/7, I need that help and the school needs that help, but the people from the department came in and just decided we don’t.
“I want a complete reversal in this. Some children in the school have very serious problems, they’ll never come back to school after this,” she said.
Last week Jean travelled to the Department of Education’s headquarters on Marlborough Street, Dublin with dozens of other concerned families to protest about the SNA cutbacks.
They demanded to speak to a representative of Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe. After much protestation, Jean says an official “reluctantly” came down to collect a letter of complaint.
Jean is like any mother. She wants the best for her child, whatever that may be.
“I’m emailing Brian Cowen, and all I get is the courtesy thing back. Batt O’Keeffe doesn’t get back to us, he doesn’t have any respect for education. The Government just go after the most vulnerable.”
