The National Council for Special Education is cutting the number of teaching hours for children with special needs.
It says the number of teaching posts remains the same – but a 10 per cent increase in the number of children with special needs, means an adjustment of 25 per cent on 2011 levels was necessary.
This September, a child with special needs that would have previously received 1 hour of extra teaching support – will get just 45 minutes.
On Thursday’s Morning Focus we heard CEO of the National Council for Special Education Teresa Griffin outline the changes to reporters in Dublin yesterday
John Cooke got reaction from Sean McMahon, Vice President of the INTO and Mullagh National School Principal, Eleanor McSherry, Policy Officer with the Special Needs Parents Association and Midwest Region Parent Liaison and Gearoid Mannion, parent and secretary of Ennis Voices for Autism (EVA) who all expressed their shock and disappointment at the measure.
Ruairi O’Conhuir- Former Chairperson of Mountaineering Ireland and current Chairperson of MI’s Access & Conservation Committee welcomed the Government’s decision not to sell Coillte’s harvesting rights
Yesterday, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform said it’s not the appropriate time to proceed with the proposal but, Brendan Howlin said the state owned forestry company is to undergo a fundamental restructuring
Kildysart native and Clarepostmaster representative Tom O’callaghan spoke with John after meeting with Minister Joan Burton last weekend
Tom recently gave a presentation to Clare Conty Council on the future of rural post offices
He says after meeting the Minister he believes there is a serious issue and the sustainability of the network is in jeopardy
He said the number of post offices left in Clare could be halved, if their contract to distribute Social Welfare payments is not renewed
That was the stark message delivered by the Irish Post Masters Union to this months meeting of Clare County Council, where the operators of post offices throughout the county turned out in large numbers to support the campaign to keep their businesses and communities alive
They’re calling for renewal of the contract with the department of Social Protection as well as the right to offer additional services like motor tax, local authority rent payments and future water charges.
Helen Houlihan from Quin is a classically trained Soprano with many years performance experience
She is behind a new musical initiative – a series of six classical lunchtime recitals to run until 15th August in St. Columba’s Church Bindon Street, Ennis on Thursdays
The series is called "Classical Thursday "- it has a mix of established and emerging artists
Helen joined John in studio and explained that it offers a platform to established artists and to showcase emerging young talent and it’s also an opportunity to bring more vibrancy and diversity to the cultural life of the town
Also joining them in studio was Canon Bob Hanna of the Church of Ireland
He warmly welcomed this project and Helen’s aspiration to grow this event and to make it an annual happening
St. Columba’s, with its great acoustics, is an oasis from the bustle of town life
We also heard some excerpts of performances by Helen are in the Viennese genre and accompanying her are the RTE Concert Orchestra
GAA Commentator and Limerick Leader Columnist Martin Kiely joined John in studio to urge the people of Clare to get involved in a major fundraising project
He is organising "The Walk of Life" a fundraising 5K walk for Milford Hospice in various locations across Limerick and also in Sixmilebridge and Cratloe in October
Martin is hoping other people may get on board to organise similar walks in Ennis or other locations
His launch night tonight at the Woodlands Hotel in Adare with Ger Loughnane performing the launch
See www.walkoflife.ie for more information or contact Martin on 087 2765790.
Susan Crawford in Miltown Malbay spoke with John ahead of embarking on a fundraising cycle with John O’Malley from Scotland to Miltown Malbay for the William Winder Rainbow Foundation
They will set off this Wednesday and hope to be back in Miltown for Saturday
She’s hoping people will sponsor them – cards will be in the shops.
John Underhill of Burren Vets joined John in studio to answer listeners’ queries.
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