Parents to maintain protests over SNA losses
Around 150 adults and children from schools in Enniscorthy, Wexford and Lucan staged a demonstration outside Leinster House yesterday calling on Education Minister Ruairi Quinn to restore funding for the SNA jobs which was cut to comply with a cap agreed under the IMF/EU/ECB bailout deal.
The group expressed anger and outrage at the decision which they claimed was putting the needs of bankers ahead of the most vulnerable members of society.
They were supported by the 16 members of the technical group of TDs representing small parties and Independents who accused the Government of forcing children to pay the price for the mismanagement of the economy.
The group also handed in a letter to the minister in which they called on current SNA staffing levels to be maintained, given there would be an extra 8,000 children entering primary school next autumn.
One of the organiser’s of the protest, Margaret Wickham, whose 10-year-old autistic son, Dylan, attends St Senan’s primary school in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, said parents were tired of being given the “run-around” by the Department of Education.
Ms Wickham said six out of 18 SNAs at St Senan’s were informed last week that their jobs are being axed.
Although the school was entitled to a right of appeal, the department informed the school’s principal last week that they now considered it inappropriate to consider such an appeal.
“Every bit of research shows the benefits of integrating kids with special needs into mainstream class settings. If these children get early intervention through the help of SNAs, they go on to live very independent lives. It is just heartbreaking to think they are not going to be given that opportunity,” said Ms Wickham.
She pointed out that the failure to provide such assistance now meant costs for looking after children with special needs would be even higher in the future as many would require long-term care.
Jane Johnson, a parent of three children, two of whom are autistic who attend Scoil Mhuire in Wexford, expressed dismay about the impact of the cuts on children with special needs.
“Our children have always been vulnerable as they’ve been let down time and time again by successive governments but they have never been so vulnerable as they are now,” said Ms Johnson. “Autism hasn’t broken my heart. It is this country and the constant fighting the system to get them their basic human rights.”
Ms Johnson said all children, not just those with special needs, would suffer as a result of the cutbacks in the number of SNAs.
She accused the Government of asking children to sacrifice their education to enable them pay money back to bankers. “That is not acceptable” said Ms Johnson.
Therese Dunne of Griffeen Valley Educate Together school in Lucan said the cost-cutting measure to reduce the number of SNA positions represented “a new low in Irish life”.
“The Department of Education and their political masters in government should hang their heads in shame at their decision to make children with special needs pay for a crisis which is undoubtedly not of their making,” said Ms Dunne.
LISA KELLY may lose her job in two weeks but she remains more concerned about the impact it will have on her pupils than her own financial situation.
The special needs assistant (SNA) only discovered yesterday that she is one of six SNAs being made redundant at St Senan’s primary school in Enniscorthy, Co Wexford.
After four years at St Senan’s, Ms Kelly was selected for redundancy from the 18 SNAs who work there according to the school’s “last-in, first-out” policy.
“It’s heartbreaking because you become very attached to all the pupils. The decision will really set back so much of the good work that has been done. It’s effectively pouring it all down the drain as you can see how much progress the kids can make with our help.”
Her face crumples with sadness as she considers the prospect at having to inform the pupils with whom she has one-on-one contact that she will not be there when they return to school in the autumn.
Ms Kelly also questioned what real savings the Government would achieve by slashing the numbers of SNAs whom in all likelihood will end up claiming social welfare payments.
“I get around €400 per week as an SNA. After I claim my dole money and any other benefits, will there really be much of a difference?
“The real scandal is what will happen these children when [SNA] help is taken away.”
