Troy raises crucial issue of special needs education in special Dáil debate [fiannafail.ie]
- Published: 20 July 2011
Fianna Fáil TD for Longford / Westmeath Robert Troy has raised the significant issue of pre-school education provision for children with special needs during a special Adjournment Debate in the Dáil.
Speaking during the debate Deputy Troy said: “When the ECCE [Early Childhood Care and Education] scheme was introduced, the HSE early intervention teams were told children could apply for a second free pre-school year. Exemptions were to be allowed where children had been assessed by the HSE or a treating consultant as having special needs that would delay their entry to school or if the enrolment policy of the local primary school was to accept children at an older age. Those were the circumstances in which a child could apply for a second year of pre-school.
“In the wider Mullingar district and 75% of County Westmeath, only 20 children are currently waiting for their second free pre-school.
“This is something that can and should be delivered by the Government.”
Full Story: www.fiannafail.ie
Minister needs to do her homework on early school leavers [IrishTimes]
- Published: 19 July 2011
ANALYSIS : Is the welfare system really a “lifestyle choice” for early school leavers?
MINISTER FOR Social Protection Joan Burton has stoked up some hot-tempered debate over the past few days by her comments.
Just about everyone agrees living on welfare isn’t good for young people. All research shows that the longer a young person stays on welfare, the poorer their chances are later in life.
But Burton’s suggestion that there’s an element of choice about living on the dole has really raised the temperature of her political opponents.
Her constituency rival Joe Higgins was quick to label this an “arrogant insult” to a generation let down by a Government that was failing to create new jobs.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Students bring case against Minister over grant changes [IrishTimes]
- Published: 19 July 2011
THREE STUDENTS have brought a High Court challenge to the Minister for Education’s decision to change the maintenance grant scheme.
The action is regarded as a test case brought on behalf of students attending various third-level colleges around the country and is supported by the Union of Students in Ireland.
Alan Wallace of Mangan O’Beirne Solicitors, for the students, said after yesterday’s application that the outcome was likely to affect thousands of people.
In their proceedings, the students are seeking orders quashing the Minister’s decision to change the rules governing how far a student must live from college in order to receive a higher (non-adjacent) rate of grant payment.
The changes were proposed by the previous government in December 2010 and came into effect earlier this month.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
The School Report - a lesson in itself [schooldays.ie]
- Published: 19 July 2011
We recently received the first of our 'official' school reports. Generally delighted (and relieved) with how the first year of school had gone, I suppose I was lucky to see the envelope land on the doorstep and not instantly dread it or reach for the whiskey before opening it. We hadn't had any real problems to deal with and I could only anticipate good things in the report.
But still, I surprised myself at my reaction to what I read. For some reason, I was anticipating grades, or marks out of ten for various things. Where are the gold stars, I wondered to myself as I read the comprehensive comments about how well my child had settled into school routine, how good his behaviour is and how well he is getting on with his classmates. All was well, it would seem - he was 'Good' at most things and 'Excellent ' at some.
What? I heard myself cry. Not excellent at everything? This is a disaster. What has gone wrong?
Full Story: www.schooldays.ie
Students challenge changes to maintenance grants [schooldays.ie]
- Published: 19 July 2011
Young people who completed their Leaving Certificate this year and are looking to go on to third-level education may be interested in the outcome of a legal challenge brought against the government.
The Irish Times reports that three students have taken a case to the High Court to stop proposed changes to maintenance grants that could cut funding for certain individuals.
Under the old rules, anyone who lives more than 24 km from their college was entitled to an extra non-adjacent grant to help with their studies, but as of this month, this threshold is increasing to 45 km.
Full Story: www.schooldays.ie
