School and children with special needs

`Temporary` solutions must be avoided

Sir, – Government plans for “special education centres” as a temporary measure to address a shortage of school places is a contravention of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The fact we even need to consider an emergency response to this situation is evidence of consistent failures in terms of adequately managing this important element of our education system.

If we have learned anything from history, it is that our State cannot be permitted to relegate vulnerable people to institutions which could deny people access to their human rights.

Furthermore, we also know from our history that there is nothing more worrying than a “temporary solution”. – Yours, etc,

DAN O’NEILL,

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Ballybricken,

Co Limerick.