‘Special needs cuts devastating’

The effects of cuts to special needs resources are having a devastating effect on all schoolchildren, the primary teachers’ conference heard.

The Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) has been tasked by delegates to get assurances from the Department of Education that any special educational needs are matched within one school term of being diagnosed.

One of the biggest issues has been the limitation to 85% of the resource teaching recommended for pupils with special needs. Schools were told earlier this year that, where children have a new diagnosis, they will have to share already- cut hours with other pupils.