Education needs – Playing politics with most needy

Teachers and parents throughout the country have expressed shock and disappointment that Children’s Special Needs Assistance is being cut by up to 50% in some schools, despite the Government’s promise to tackle special needs and disability through the Disability Bill and the Education for Persons with Disabilities Bill.

It was a contemptuous and reprehensible ploy on the part of the Government and the Department of Education to make its announcement on the day the Dáil went into recess for the summer. This may save them from the criticism of their political opponents, but such contemptible behaviour only fuels public cynicism about politics in general.

Hundreds of parents with autistic children have been waiting from two to four months for their children’s home tuition to be paid. The Department of Education has added insult to injury by not being prepared to admit that there has been any change.

Child and adolescent psychiatrist Michael Fitzgerald warned yesterday that special needs assistance is critical for children with autism. Cutting back on such services poses a real risk to these children.

Surely the politicians and civil servants have learned by now that ignoring such problems is not only improper and unjust, but also extremely expensive? They are not saving money but playing shoddy politics with the most vulnerable people in society.