Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

St. Killian's Special School in Mayfield on the north side of Cork city is a wonderful school that has 93 children attending. That figure will rise to 99 in September. The school has need of a psychologist, a speech and language therapist and an occupational therapist, and perhaps a play therapist and a behavioural therapist. Before Christmas, the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, told school representatives that grant aid would be available for procuring private therapists for this work. The school lined up a reputable company to provide an integral service three days per week. It then waited and waited. Every week, it has been told the grant aid will come next week but the green light never comes. Staff and parents now wonder if it will even be in place for September.

The arrangement mentioned has been put in place for other schools. No new ground is being broken here. When will St. Killian's get the good news it deserves and was promised?

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