The 2004 Budget has failed to address the educational requirements of children with special needs, despite the Government's stated commitment to such children, the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) said.
ASTI president Mr Pat Cahill said legislation such as the forthcoming Education for Persons with Disabilities Bill emphasises an inclusive approach to education which provides for the needs of children with special educational needs. However, the Government had failed to provide the resources necessary to enable all schools to be fully inclusive.
"Rather than increasing resources to schools to enable them to meet the needs of all students and fulfil their obligations under education legislation, this Government is delivering cutbacks," Mr Cahill said.
Mr Cahill said schools with special needs students require adequate access to learning support teachers, resource teachers and other specialist teachers, special needs assistants, counselling and welfare services, and specialist equipment, facilities, and educational materials.
"Instead of providing the necessary funding for these resources, schools are experiencing cuts in special needs teaching posts and unacceptable delays in accessing psychological assessment services.
"Schools have always had to struggle to access the most minimal resources for students with special educational needs. Now they are battling to hold on to these resources. The bureaucratic difficulties they are confronted with in order to secure these resources is a further drain on the school," said Mr Cahill.
Mr Cahill said Ireland currently comes 22nd out of 27 OECD countries when it comes to funding for second level. "Budget 2004 does nothing to rectify this," he said.
The general secretary of the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO), Mr John Carr, welcomed Mr McCreevy's allocation of €200 million to education over the next five years. However, he said the union was disappointed with the overall funding 'envelope'. The INTO had said a package of €300 million was needed and the union would continue to campaign for an increase in the funding.