FF Minister confirms Castlebar school to lose 3 Special Needs Assistants – O’Mahony

Education Minister makes startling claim that SNA’s are not a matter for him

Fine Gael Mayo Deputy, John O’Mahony, questioned the Minister for Education, Batt O’Keeffe in the Dáil today (Thursday) with the Minister being forced to admit that St Anthony Special School in Castlebar will loose three special needs assistants from Easter.

“This is the most savage cut to the most vulnerable in society.

“Today in the Dáil I pushed the Minister for Education on St Anthony Special School in Castlebar and was distraught to hear that the Minister still intends to cut three special needs assistants from the school. Batt O’Keeffe stated that this cut would be the same right across the board for every special school in Ireland but he failed to take the specific instance of St Anthonys into account. I believe this is a grave error.

“Alongside this, Batt O’Keeffe made the startling statement that, as Minister for Education, he has no responsibility on the matter and he attempted to hive off all responsibility to the National Council for Special Education. This ridiculous attempt to avoid responsibility just won’t fly. He cannot hide behind faceless boards that are not accountable to the people and this decision is his and that of his Fianna Fáil and Green colleagues.

“I invite the Minister to visit this school and other schools like this to hear the pleas and cries and the passion of the parents, teachers and, most of all, the children this decision affects.”