Help for our brightest - Cutting grant is a travesty

THE Government’s stubborn propensity to take the wrong budgetary option time and again is graphically illustrated by the latest cutback in education.

To save less than €100,000, hundreds of the country’s brightest children could miss out on special classes to hone their talents.

Set up 15 years ago, the Centre for Talented Youth in Ireland has been invaluable for fine-tuning the academic gifts of some of our brightest young people.

Up to the age 16, the top 5% in ability can take on subjects not available in schools, ranging from biochemistry and astronomy to film studies or novel writing.

Most pay their own way but about 600 depend on support from the centre’s annual grant of €98,000. Many gifted children have special educational needs such as Asperger’s Syndrome, dyslexia or attention deficit disorder (ADD).

Cutting the centre’s meagre grant aid is unconscionable and means their chance in life will be now set back.