Children affected by cuts deliver message [Independent.ie]
- Published: 22 June 2011
THE reality of planned cuts to special needs assistants was spelled out to Government Chief Whip Paul Kehoe yesterday -- as he came face-to-face with children who will be affected.
The announcement last week that 227 special needs assistants (SNAs) would be cut, in line with a decision by the previous government, prompted hundreds to protest outside the Dail.
Mr Kehoe came under fire from staff and parents of a large primary school in his native Wexford -- which is going to lose six of its 27 SNAs in September.
But the most eloquent contribution was from a pupil who is set to lose his assistant.
"I want my SNA back. If I don't have her, I'll be scared," Mike O'Leary (11) told Mr Kehoe.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
