Ministers accused over autistic children as specialist schools forced to close [IrishTimes]
- Published: 30 July 2011
A SCHOOL providing specialist Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) education to children with autism has closed, despite promises from Ministers Eamon Gilmore, Ruairí Quinn and James Reilly when in opposition that they would support ABA education.
The Achieve ABA school in Donaghmede, Dublin, which has been providing such education since 2006, closed yesterday as the parents of the eight children there could no longer afford to pay for it.
It has never received direct State funding. Up to now it has been funded in part with the home tuition grants, to which some of its pupils were entitled, and through fundraising. The grant is available to children with special needs between the ages of two and five years.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Minister announces reforms to qualifications bodies [schooldays.ie]
- Published: 29 July 2011
The government has announced reforms to the education system that will see several qualifications bodies merged into a single organisation.
Under the proposals set out in the new legislation, the authority will take responsibility for the quality assurance of third-level establishments in the country, a function currently performed by the Irish Universities Quality Board.
Education Minister Ruairi Quinn stated: "This Bill is an important step in ensuring an overall coherent approach to qualifications and quality assurance in education and training and in enhancing Ireland's reputation in this field."
Full Story: www.schooldays.ie
Madness to let school close when alternatives cost more [Independent.ie]
- Published: 29 July 2011
I am not normally one who gets involved or any way confrontational, but it pains me to read such a sad article (Irish Independent, July 28) about the Government's refusal to fund a school -- established by parents -- for children with autism.
I truly thought we had turned a corner, with Enda Kenny's new openness, transparency and judging everything on its merits and value for money. But it seems madness to let a school close that costs less than the state alternatives.
Parent Daniel O'Mahony, while having a vested interest, has clearly done his homework in trying to seek alternatives and showing the higher costs of other options. I am sure he cannot believe that 'no' is the State's answer.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
SNA Appointment Form
- Published: 29 July 2011
SNA Appointment Form has been updated by the DES for school year 2011/2012 to include new arrangements regarding qualifications (Circular 21/2011) and garda vetting.
Click here to download Circular 21/2011
Click here to download SNA Appointment Form
Expulsion appeal to be heard again [IrishTimes]
- Published: 28 July 2011
THE HIGH Court has quashed a Department of Education direction requiring a secondary school to take back a boy who had been expelled. A fresh hearing of the boy’s appeal against expulsion has been ordered.
The boy, who cannot be identified, was expelled by the Vocational Education Committee-run school in the southeast last year following a series of incidents, including spitting at a teacher and striking other students. His father appealed that expulsion.
A three-person committee set up under section 29 of the 1998 Education Act allowed the appeal on grounds including a lack of alternative school placements for the boy and the fact he was out of school since May 2010.
The school was directed on January 11th last to give effect to the committee’s finding.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
