This article is from page 8 of the 2013-07-02 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 8 JPG
PARENTS of Clare children with special needs have drawn a line in the sand – this far and no farther. More than 100 people turned out in Ennis on Wednesday to protest against cuts in educational supports for children with special need.
Protests of this kind could become a regular sight in Ennis with Clare parent vowing to fight tooth and nail against future cuts of any kind.
According to parent Catherine Burke, the SNA (Special Needs Assistant)/student ratio for children in Clare has gone from one to three in 2010 to one to seven this year.
“We will see more protests – definitely.
“It has been agreed by the Clare Parents Support Group that, from here on in, we will be giving voices to our children – who don’t have voices themselves,” said Catherine.
“If they cut us anymore more we will be out on the streets – we will have our voices heard.
“Our kids need these support. If they don’t get a chance of an education then they won’t be able to reach their potential. Their voices will be heard on this issue – we will make sure of that.”
According to the Clare Parents Support Group, the numbers at last week’s protest in Ennis would have been even larger but for some confusion following last Tuesday’s statement from Minister for Education, Ruairí Quinn (Lab).
“We had more than 100 people there, so I think we did very well for something that was organised over two days on social media. I think we got our message across very well.
“We probably would have gotten more people out for the march but there was some confusion with some people who thought that situation was sorted out after Ruairí Quinn’s statement from the previous day.
“The resource hours have been reallocated to our children but we still have a cap on SNA in our school. So this does amount to a big cut.
“In bigger schools we now have SNAs being shred between four kids with special needs who might be in different class room – it’s not a workable situation.
“This is not a large amount of money.
“Early intervention is key and if these supports are cut, then it be creating more problems down the line. When children are young, it is much easier to help them.
“If they don’t get this support early then it is just making the job harder when they turn eight or nine.”