Access Education Louth launches campaign group

Access Education Louth launched its campaign group on Wednesday 15 April with Niamh Maher of Healy Law who spoke about helping parents who still need a school place, secondary or primary, for their child with special educational needs.

Access Education Louth said it campaigns on adequately resourced school places for children with additional needs, supporting the special needs assistants campaign (Save Our SNAs), and for every child in the state to receive the education they deserve.

According to the latest announcement regarding special school places in secondary level, there is no new places for Louth. Access Education Louth said it welcomes all new school places announced, but many won’t be ready for September in time for the new school year and added that there is a distinct lack for children with moderate intellectual disability. 

The group said it will be running a poll for parents to answer about their children’s current school place situation in the coming weeks, to gather an accurate view of how many children in Louth are without an appropriate school place for the school year ahead. 

Access Education Louth said it believes "there is strength in numbers and collectively we can build the education system we all deserve. If you’re a parent struggling to find your child an appropriate school place, an exploited and overworked SNA or simply someone who is appalled at our dysfunctional education system and wants to fight back". 

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It went on to say that the most "recent underhanded spin by the government", was to announce five “inclusive” special classes, which it said which would double the number of children within a special class but no additional staff.

"Again this decision came without any consultation with advocacy groups. Children’s voices are continuously ignored by the government in every policy decision that affects them. 

"Over the past year there has been excellent protests at the square in Dundalk over school places for children and preventing special needs assistant cuts, let’s keep the fightback going."

The group said that the government has spent approximately €1.769 million on legal fees between 2022-2024, per findings in the Public Accounts Committee, fighting parents who are trying to secure appropriate school places for their children.

"This startling figure is a reflection of a broken education system and the current harmful approach to special education provision. That money should be spent on more classrooms, special education teachers, SNAs instead of tiring legal battles against already exhausted families to achieve a dignified education for their child."

Access Education Louth added that for anybody who wants to get involved, there is an announcement bulletin to join for notice of upcoming protests, information stalls, leafletting and email campaigns. Please contact accesseducationlouth@gmail.com