Johnny Guirke (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. In some cases the ratio is 30:1. I believe that is the ratio in Kilbride National School. Although the Minister of State has said she will look at it in the appeal, I was hoping she would give a commitment tonight to reverse the decision on SET hours in Kilbride. One third of schools have had their SET resources cut. However, prior to these cuts the vast majority of parents did not believe their children were being adequately supported in mainstream schools. This is according to research by Inclusion Ireland. Imposing these cuts or any cuts, whatever the criteria being used, whether it is enrolment figures or otherwise, is only going to hurt those children who most need the SET hours. This is the decision schools are being forced to make, namely, to use their insufficient resources to cater for the majority of the children thus giving less to the children who need it most.

If these cuts go ahead the children who need help are just being given a seat at the table in the mainstream class but not the time and attention they need for meaningful participation. This is what the SET hours allow for, namely, meaningful participation and an opportunity for the kids who need it most to learn on an equal basis. To cut the SET allocation for one third of schools in the State and to suggest these children are still being treated equitably and are getting the help they need is simply wrong. There is an old adage that the mark of civility in a country can be judged by how it treats the most vulnerable members. I do not believe we are covering ourselves in glory when we take away teaching hours from our children who are most in need of that little bit of extra help. Again, I ask the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, to reverse those decisions.

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