Results 3,961-3,980 of 5,732 for speaker:Fidelma Healy Eames

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (Resumed) (24 Feb 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: That is good news, which I welcome.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (Resumed) (24 Feb 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It is all about the criteria.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (Resumed) (24 Feb 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It is all about the criteria.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (Resumed) (24 Feb 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: They are not resource teachers.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (Resumed) (24 Feb 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: That is huge but they are not resource teachers.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (Resumed) (24 Feb 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It is outrageous.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (Resumed) (24 Feb 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: They are all based on published reports.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (Resumed) (24 Feb 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: This motion has stimulated much debate and I thank all Senators who contributed. My interest is the child. I have no other interest in this. I am not interested in making it a political issue but it is one because Government decisions are making or breaking children. The Government side has been extremely defensive in its behaviour. I would ask some of the Senators who threw many wild...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (Resumed) (24 Feb 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Gabh mo leithscéal. Tá mé ag caint anois.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (Resumed) (24 Feb 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I am losing time.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (Resumed) (24 Feb 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: When I contacted the National Council for Special Education, it said that of 1,000 schools, the number of special needs assistants has been cut by 300. There are 4,000 primary schools so if we extrapolate from that, perhaps it is from there the author got the figure because it would come to 1,200. The Government is guilty of misinformation. The problem is the criteria. A number of Senators...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (Resumed) (24 Feb 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Absolutely not.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (24 Feb 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I move: That Seanad Éireann: noting— — the withdrawal of approximately 1,200 special needs assistants from schools throughout the country; — the Government's failure to implement the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs (EPSEN) Act 2004; — the abolition of over 120 special needs classes last year; — the Minister for Education and Science's failure to publish advice...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (24 Feb 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I thank the Cathaoirleach.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (24 Feb 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: Let us consider the facts. That is a disgraceful comment and the Minister approaches me in the very same way in the corridor. The truth hurts.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (24 Feb 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I am being very accurate. I do not even need to listen to the Minister's comments. Currently there is a threat that 1,200 special needs assistants, SNAs, will be withdrawn from the schools throughout the country. The NCSE office told me this morning that, after the completion of reviews in 1,000 schools, 300 SNAs had already been withdrawn, with resource hours. The Government's policy of...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (24 Feb 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I will have no problem in doing so. Last year the Minister abolished 120 special needs classes, with over 500 children being placed in mainstream classes. Some of these children even had to be toileted. Some of the schools in question are now at risk of losing further SNAs and resource hours. I have learned that schools are finding it more difficult to get help from the NCSE because,...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (24 Feb 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: I look forward to summing up at the end.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (24 Feb 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: It should get huge publicity.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Motion (24 Feb 2010)

Fidelma Healy Eames: There is none, due to the situation with the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act.