Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The programme for Government speaks about improving the provision of school resources for children with special needs. Yesterday the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, published documentation on resource teaching, learning supports and special needs assistants. Shockingly, there is no longer an appeals process available to parents who are dissatisfied with the number of resources hours and learning supports being provided for their child. The appeals process that was in place has now been abolished, which is an extremely retrograde step. Many people were worried about the NCSE's new model for allocation but were listening to the strong arguments being put forward by it. Many people are shocked that parents no longer have a right to appeal a resource allocation provided, in this case, by the teachers.

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