Mattie McGrath calls for special needs officer in South Tipperary
Mattie McGrath raised the absence of a special needs education officer for South Tipperary, saying the Sino in North Tipperary is covering the area and cannot meet demand. He urged the situation be rectified, warning parents are frustrated and children with special needs are not being looked after in a timely way.
Issue raised
McGrath told the debate there is currently no special needs education officer assigned to South Tipperary and that the Sino in North Tipperary has been covering the area to the best of their ability. He described the situation as shocking and asked that it be remedied.
Local impact cited
He highlighted the county's size - saying Tipperary is 115 miles long - and said the length makes it impractical for one Sino in North Tipperary to provide the necessary service. McGrath said parents are being frustrated and children with special needs are not receiving timely supports or access to their Sinos.
Past performance and current gap
McGrath noted the last Sino did a great job and implied a staffing gap now exists as demand for special needs education and supports rises. He emphasised the importance of parents having access to their Sinos to secure appropriate school places.
Government response and resources
A minister responding acknowledged the importance of Sinos and said resources for the NCSC were increased in the most recent budget, which should lead to an increase in the number of Sinos nationally. The minister also noted there is a new CEO at the NCSC and invited McGrath to provide specifics of the South Tipperary case so it can be taken up.
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There is currently no special needs education officer assigned to South Tipperary, and the Sino in North Tipperary has been covering the area to the best of their ability. However, given the rising number of those seeking special needs education with special needs supports and the importance of the access for parents to their Sinos, I'm asking if you will have this situation rectified. It's a shocking situation that we don't have a Sino in South Tipperary. The last Sino did a great job, and the length of Tipperary is 115 miles long, and it's just not possible for the Sino in North Tipperary to provide that service. Parents are being frustrated, and above all, children with those needs are not being looked after in a timely way. Thank you very much, Deputy McGrath. I know the importance of Sinos and the relationship that they have with parents and helping them to secure an appropriate school place in communities all over Ireland. What I can say is that we have increased the resources for the NCSC in the most recent budget, and I know that that will result in an increase in the number of Sinos all over Ireland. So if you want to provide me with the specifics of that case in South Tipperary, we will take it up. There is a new CEO in charge of the NCSC, and as I say, they have been given resources now to increase the number of Sinos in the country. So hopefully that will help to resolve the issue in South Tipperary. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
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