Protesters to gather in Cork for special needs support rally

Protestors will gather in Cork today to demonstrate their anger at proposed cuts to Special Needs Assistants in schools.

There are currently more than 10,800 SNAs in Ireland, 227 more than agreed under the terms of the EU/IMF bailout.

But Eoin Kelly of the Special Needs Parents Association in Cork said the Government could not making cuts to the most vulnerable.

He said: "Cuts have to be accepted across the board, but we have to make choices about where we have priorities…Special needs children are one of the most vulnerable sectors in society. Why should they bear the brunt of the only cuts annouced so far in education?"