Kate to start school as parents win fight for SNA

A Cork family has won its battle to secure a full-time special needs assistant for their five-year-old daughter.

Kate Crowley’s parents had almost given up hope of fulfilling their dreams to enrol the bright youngster into St Columbus Girls’ School in Douglas after education chiefs allocated just one assistant to look after Kate and five other children with special needs.

But last-minute negotiations late last week ended with an unexpected and successful resolution, meaning Kate, from Dunkettle, will finally be able to start ‘big school’ today after a full-time assistant was assigned to cater for her needs.

Her parents John and Maria admitted that they had all but given up hope of seeing their daughter start school after their campaign suffered a series of setbacks.

But unexpectedly, the couple were given a huge lift last Friday when they received official word that their daughter would be given the exact resources she requires.

Her father John said yesterday: “It’s been an exhausting campaign and, to be honest, we had just about given up hope of getting Kate an assistant.

“But meetings between the school and the National Council for Special Education took place last Thursday and then we got a phone call from the principal, who told us that Kate could start school on Monday and the appropriate resources had been put in place for her.

“They have worked out a model and programme that will give Kate the appropriate support she needs on a permanent basis. We’re absolutely thrilled,” he said.

And Maria said it was a particularly special moment when they finally got to tell her daughter she would be able to begin her primary school education.

“Kate has been upset about not being able to start school, but it was a wonderful moment when we got to tell her that we had got a special needsassistant in place to look after her. She is so excited and hasn’t stopped talking about starting school ever since.”

John also praised Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin, who he said had worked hard behind the scene to try and resolve Kate’s case.

Last Thursday, in response to a question by Mr Martin in the Dáil, their campaign was given a much-needed lift when Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore made a promise her case would be examined.

Earlier this summer experts from Enable Ireland found that her complex and life-limiting illness merited a full-time special needs assistant to cater for her needs.