Laois special schools 'excluded' from major Government pilot-plan

Laois and Offaly have been left out of a nationwide 'pilot plan' to redistribute therapists through 16 special schools in the coming year.

The aim of this new plan is to 'provide delivery of in-school therapy supports to children in selected special schools.'

There are currently 130 special schools in Ireland, and the programme is planned to roll out in 16 schools each year going forward.

For the coming school year, six of the 16 places available in the programme have been filled; four schools in Cork, along with two in Dublin.

Therapists in Special Schools Alliance, a new Laois/Offaly based group, have warmly congratulated the selected schools on their allocations to the plan, while calling attention to the lack of clarity surrounding the programme's parameters.

The group say that the criteria for chosen schools has not been released, and have expressed their dismay at the lack of rural representation. 

For these reasons, the group have requested that the Public Accounts Committee conduct a full hearing on the pilot programme.

"We can't get any information on what the parameters were, how schools were assessed, ranked, or considered for this pilot programme, and this is public money funding it," explained Alliance member Orlaith Kerrigan.

"We're happy for whatever schools are chosen. They absolutely, richly deserve it. There's no begrudgery from us, but we need the process to be fair," Ms Kerrigan said.

Upon contacting Government departments and representatives, the alliance have been told that the pilot project is undertaken in consultation with the Department of Education, the National Council for Special Education, the HSE, and the Department of Health and at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

"The Ministers and senior civil servants that are making these decisions about our children, absolutely will not engage with us. Beyond sending emails, they will not respond to a request for a meeting," Ms Kerrigan explained.

"We can't get access to how this scheme was devised. This lack of communication is exacerbating the problem.

"I think parents of kids with special needs are very understanding. We're also very used to waiting. We understand there's a limited amount of services," Ms Kerrigan explained.

Pictured: A public meeting to demand a new school for Kolbe held in March 2023. Photo: Leinster Express

"Nobody is trying to push to the front of the queue here, but it is about what our children are entitled to, and we need to be communicated with if there is a problem, or what the plan is going forward," she said.

"Three of my children are in mainstream school, and I have never had to write to the Government to see their needs met, mainstream schools don't receive the same cavalier attitude."

The Therapists in Special Schools Alliance wrote to the Public Accounts Committee on August 21, requesting a full hearing on the pilot programme.

"This is public money that's being spent. There doesn't seem to be any oversight or governance of how the scheme is being applied," Ms Kerrigan said.

"We have no idea on what basis the decision was made to include the chosen schools. What is most worrying is that if they're only going to take 16 schools every year, it will take eight years to roll out nationally.

"It means that if they have ranked all of the schools in terms of who needs what, some school is number 130, and will not get any services for at least eight years," Ms Kerrigan said.

"By which time, all of these politicians will be long gone, or redeployed themselves with no accountability," she added.

"These are very serious issues facing these children," said Ms Kerrigan.

"They require a lot of support and help. Children need these therapies to live their lives, and that's what is getting lost in this discussion."

Pictured: The opening of the new St Francis school building, June 16 2022. 

The alliance group have also pointed out the undue pressure that this situation puts on teachers and special needs assistants.

"If the teacher in the class is being expected to attend to six different competing sensory profiles, six different methods of communication, how can they attend to educational needs as well?" Ms Kerrigan questioned.

"The people of Laois and Offaly, I will say, are such understanding and supportive of people. We got great support with our campaign to build Kolbe," Ms Kerrigan said.

"The Kolbe school recently got a lovely new building, and we are glad of it- but a school is more than just bricks and mortar. You never know if your loved one is going to need to attend a special school," she finished.