Special needs decision "beggars belief"

Sinn Féin TD Seán Crowe says the decision of the Department of Education to make special needs assistants redundant is scandalous, given the dire needs of children throughout the State.

"This decision beggars belief," he said. "Minister Mary Hanafin should reverse it immediately and see that these assistants are allocated where they are needed.

"For many months we have been waiting for the Minister to conclude her review of the allocation scheme for special needs teachers. We have still not got the result of that review and school principals are in the dark as they try to plan for the coming school year.

"Children with special needs and their parents are being treated disgracefully with no services or totally inadequate services or the promise of services which have not yet materialised."