Sir, – The feature by Seán Flynn (“Quinn faces reality check in education reform drive”, August 4th) provided plenty of food for thought. One item I would take issue with was his statement on the cuts for special needs children. “The cuts have already generated huge controversy even though the potential savings for the department in maintaining the (Fianna Fáil-imposed) ceiling 10,575 special needs assistants is relatively modest”.
That was my view, so I wrote to the Government suggesting that apart from any moral aspect, it would be good public relations not to proceed with these cuts. I believe there’s an onus on anyone suggesting “no cuts here” to state where an equivalent amount should be cut. I suggested, that since we have the highest-paid teachers in the EU they should be made to take a hit.
I was amazed when informed that the special needs section amounts to €1.3 billion annually, almost 15 per cent of the education budget, and that expenditure on the special needs assistant scheme has increased by 922 per cent in the period 2001-2009. I was also reminded that under the Croke Park Agreement wages cannot be reduced before 2014, providing all parties toe the line.
Reluctantly I am forced to agree that special needs children will have to take a hit like everyone else. The Government needs to get all economic facts into the public domain, in plain language. No weasel words, ifs, buts or maybes. And we citizens must face the facts of life, however unpalatable. – Yours, etc,