Madam, - The statement by the the Department of Education, after a survey of a limited number of schools, that it may be over generous in the provision of services for children with special needs (The Irish Times, December 12th) will be greeted with incredulity by parents throughout the country. The news that the Department is planning to withdraw additional resources teachers will be met with despair.
Defending this decision, the Minister, Noel Dempsey, compared the 3 per cent of children receiving special education throughout the EU with the 12 p er cent in this country. What he is actually doing is demonstrating his own lack of knowledge of the subject.
One of the main reasons our average is higher is because in other European states termination of a pregnancy which might result in a child with a disability is considered an acceptable choice. Thankfully, in Ireland all children are cherished, but the price we must pay is additional resources in education and healthcare.
I am writing as a parent of a child with a disability. He currently receives 2.5 hours of resource teaching a week. A psychological assessment recommended a doubling of this. He should have speech therapy once a week; he has had six sessions in the past 12 months, I am still awaiting an individual educationanal plan.
The reason he is not receiving this additional help is because of a lack of trained teachers and therapists. This situation is replicated the length and breadth of this country.
Words can not describe my contempt for a Government that is willing to take from the most vulnerable. What a legacy Mr Dempsey will leave. - Yours, etc.,
MICHAEL O'DOWD,
Balgathern,
Drogheda,
Co Louth.