Proposals from Denis Naughten TD that would see innovative recruitment of therapists to work evenings and weekends in children’s disability services has received the support of the Taoiseach. The Dáil heard this week from Denis Naughten TD that the HSE must introduce flexible working contracts to attract therapists to the almost 800 vacancies that currently exist across children’s disability services. …
St. Teresa’s receives 3 new classrooms, as new school to be fast-tracked – Naughten
Local TD Denis Naughten has received confirmation from the Minister for Education that St. Teresa’s special school in Ballinasloe is about to receive three new temporary classrooms while the new school building project is to be fast-tracked. “Over the Easter break, plans are underway to provide three new modular general classrooms to cater for the current needs of St. Teresa’s …
Naughten tells Dáil children’s services are “in crisis” across the country
Local TD Denis Naughten has told the Dáil that children’s services throughout the country “are in crisis” and called on the Taoiseach to use the new unit established in his department to focus on improving children’s well-being to prioritise access to such services. “When the Taoiseach resumed his current role in December, he announced that a unit would be …
Questions remain over school transport despite Minister seeking Budget funding – Naughten
Local TD Denis Naughten has been informed by Minister Norma Foley TD that she is seeking additional funds in next week’s Budget to address the current school transport situation, however, he has highlighted the fact that the Minister “is not guaranteeing that children and their siblings who had a bus service last year will get a service this year”. Denis …
Minister claims more tickets will issue as buses sourced – Naughten
Local TD Denis Naughten has received a Dáil reply from Minister Norma Foley TD indicating that Bus Eireann will issue more tickets to school children “as extra buses and drivers are sourced”. “I have received an unprecedented level of complaints from parents in relation to school transport and, as a result, I sought clarification from the Education Minister on what …
11 local children leave primary school this month with no place for September – Naughten
Local TD Denis Naughten has called for immediate action from Government to address the crisis situation where 11 local children are set to leave primary school in the next two weeks with no provision made for their secondary education in September. “Despite Minister Josepha Madigan assuring me four weeks ago that these local children would have access to an autism-specific …
Local autism places update
Last night in Dáil Éireann I raised the failure by the Department of Education to provide secondary school places for 11 local children, and the broader issue of specific classes at primary school level. Watch what I said here: I had previously raised this specific issue in the Dáil 4 weeks ago with the Minister: https://youtu.be/6FUExmazgO4 Dáil Éireann debate …
Local children traveling 4,500km/week to access education
11 local children are facing a 4,500km/week journey to access an autism specific second level class in either Glenamaddy or Longford Town because there is no capacity in the Athlone schools to cater for the students. I raised this issue in the Dáil this week and have received a commitment from Minister Madigan that local places will be secured for …
More autism school places needed in South Roscommon & Athlone – Naughten
Local TD Denis Naughten is seeking to quiz the Education Minister this week on the lack of places in Athlone and South Roscommon for pupils with autism. “The lack of places is now forcing pupils from South Roscommon to travel up to 100km each day to avail of an education with two south Roscommon children facing a daily journey to …
Update on autism education provision locally
There is currently a very serious shortage of autism school places for local children. I’ve worked in the past with a number of local primary and post-primary schools to establish specialist classes to meet the needs of local students, rather than forcing them to travel long distances to avail of an education. The ASD issue has been highlighted …