Parents in Laois special schools slam Government for "three-tier standards" of priority

Therapists in Special Schools Alliance has called for the Government to remove a "three-tier standard" to special schools nationally.

This follows the exclusion of Laois and Offaly special schools from a nationwide 'pilot plan' to redistribute therapists through 16 special schools in the coming year.

St Killian's Special School in County Cork have recently called out Minister Anne Rabbitte for allegedly promising the funding of €150,000 to privately hire school therapists, should the school not have made the pilot programme.

Upon hearing this news, the Laois/Offaly based Therapists in Special Schools Alliance have demanded that a "three-tier standard" of special schools be removed.

“There can’t be three levels of special schools- those chosen for the pilot programme, those who receive government funding to hire in therapists privately, and the rest of us around the country,” said Alliance member Orlaith Kerrigan.

"There is no begrudgery here- but if offers of funding have been made to other schools, we don’t want our children forgotten about either," she said.

The Alliance has recently launched a petition  for their inclusion in the pilot programme. 

Pictured: Kolbe Special School, St. Francis Special School, Portlaoise, and Offaly School for Special Education.

"Public support has been great, it’s hard for us to meet up ourselves with the kids going to school on buses," Ms Kerrigan explained.

"The support from family, friends and the public has been fantastic- we’re anxious to keep this issue to the forefront, we don’t want to be forgotten about."

"It's quite hard to get the message out, local politicians say they are making ‘inquiries’. Beyond ‘taking a look into it’, TD Charlie Flanagan has written to the Taoiseach on the matter," the Alliance member explained.

"We have heard that the remaining 10 places have already been selected privately, and they will all be announced as Cork and Dublin. 

"Our preference is to be included in this pilot programme, but if we can’t, we would like the funding to support the private hiring of therapists. We don't want our children forgotten about," Ms Kerrigan finished.

The group have recently requested a full hearing of the pilot programme in front of the Public Accounts Committee.