Sir, – One has to question the reason and timing behind Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn’s groundbreaking plans for legislation that will prevent schools discriminating those of us with special needs (Home News, September 4th).
Is this the same Minister who has presided over continual cuts to educational resources for those with special needs since he has become Minister for Education? Is it the same Minister who refuses to sign the commencement order of the sections of the Education of Persons with Special Educational Needs Act (Epsen) 2004 that would allow those same people with special needs to appeal against the arbitrary cuts brought in by the Minister under the cover of National Council for Special Education? And is this the same National Council for Special Education (NCSE) that now seem so concerned about schools discriminating against those of us with special needs?
Strangely enough, the sections of the Epsen Act that brought the NCSE into existence were commenced but not the ones to make it accountable to those it should serve.
The reason the Minister has refused to sign these sections is equally confusing. He claims that the country cannot afford it; then why is he bringing in more legislation that he will never commence? Is it, I wonder, to distract before he brings in another plethora of cuts in October’s budget against those most marginalised in society? – Yours, etc,
NIALL McCABE,
Templetown,
Fethard on Sea,
New Ross,
Co Wexford.