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
Quinn: School patronage should reflect reality on the ground [IrishExaminer]
- Published: 22 June 2011
Minister Quinn's comments come as the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in primary schools begins a three-day public session to discuss the submissions of key stakeholders.
The Minister has previously said that he would like to see half of the 3,000 Catholic primary schools in the State transferred to a different patronage.
"There will be no losers in this particular process as far as I'm concerned," he said.
Full Story: www.examiner.ie
Teachers on tour -- the Three Amigos's excellent adventure [Independent.ie]
- Published: 22 June 2011
Well here I am, it's four in the morning and both Kurt Moobs and Finnegan are snoring so loudly that, although I am exhausted, there's no way I'll drop off any time soon.
As soon as the school emptied of kids, the whole staff headed up to the best hotel in the town.
On with the nose bags and we all proceeded to drink away the year's slog deep into the night.
By the next day, three tired amigos had arrived in the English Lake District, flying into Blackpool, the seaside town which has terrifying rollercoasters looking on to a great beach.
We picked up a hire car for the short drive to our hotel. With the cost of the car and the hotel split three ways, we jumped at the chance to spend a couple of days driving and walking in this huge, unspoilt national park.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
Forum on school patronage opens [IrishTimes]
- Published: 22 June 2011
The Department of Education’s forum on primary school patronage began in Dublin today.
The forum, which continues until Friday, will hear submissions from interested parties including three from Catholic church bodies – the Council for Education of the Irish Episcopal Conference, the Catholic Primary School Management Association and the Association of Trustees of Catholic Schools.
In a submission to the forum, the Catholic bishops have criticised as “very unhelpful” a suggestion by Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn that 50 per cent of primary schools under their control could be transferred to other patrons.
This suggested to those involved with Catholic schools that “they will be forced into change against their will”, the bishops said.
Archbishop of Dublin, Dr Diarmuid Martin has noted that 90 per cent of Dublin primary schools were under his patronage, while the percentage population who actively wanted a Catholic education could be as low as 50 per cent.
Full Story: www.irishtimes.com
Concerns raised over new charge for 'free' school bus [Independent.ie]
- Published: 22 June 2011
THERE are concerns that pupils of small rural schools such as Harestown, Tullydonnell and Termonfeckin Primary Schools will face a winter of hardship and uncertainly if the proposed changes under the School Transport Scheme comes into effect from this September.
Concerns have been raised by parents Harestown and local Sinn Fein Cllrs Imelda Munster and Pearse McGeough met with the school principal regarding the threatened changes which will see a €50 charge for the previously free bus service apply to each pupil.
' The changes to the scheme are set to cause undue hardship and uncertainty to many families attending rural schools such as Harestown who are reliant on the school bus service which has been in place for decades now and has always been a free service for primary school children,' Sinn Fein Cllr for the area Imelda Munster told the Drogheda Independent.
'What we are seeing here is the current government making cuts through the Department of Education by failing to adequately fund the rural school bus service.'
Full Story: www.independent.ie
