Mattie McGrath: Ballapurine special class left in limbo
Mattie McGrath raised concerns about a special class at Ballapurine school in Tipperary, saying six children had been enrolled and approved but the ANCSE has stated only one child is registered, leaving placements uncertain. He called for the ANCSE and the minister to engage with the school and the community council to recognise the qualified pupils and find a resolution as the building is ready to open.
McGrath said the principal, Shane Morland, and the community council bought and upgraded the old school with a grant and were prepared to provide it to the school for a nominal fee. He reported that six children had been enrolled for the special needs class and had approval, but that the ANCSE now claims there is only one child.
The community council has worked to keep the buildings on the same campus and has shown goodwill toward the school - McGrath said the building is ready and will officially open shortly. He described a unique local arrangement and stressed the expectation that places would be available for the enrolled children.
McGrath said five children from the school have qualified for the special needs class and that families and staff are left in limbo so late in the year. He noted similar issues have arisen in Bansham and Kylosti and said Deputy Murphy had raised related concerns previously.
McGrath praised Mr Minerhan for assisting with engagement between the ANCSE and the school and urged further action from the minister. A responding member said they would speak with the two ministers responsible and try to find a resolution that works for the children and the community.
What was raised
McGrath said the principal, Shane Morland, and the community council bought and upgraded the old school with a grant and were prepared to provide it to the school for a nominal fee. He reported that six children had been enrolled for the special needs class and had approval, but that the ANCSE now claims there is only one child.
Community facilities and goodwill
The community council has worked to keep the buildings on the same campus and has shown goodwill toward the school - McGrath said the building is ready and will officially open shortly. He described a unique local arrangement and stressed the expectation that places would be available for the enrolled children.
Pupils affected and local examples
McGrath said five children from the school have qualified for the special needs class and that families and staff are left in limbo so late in the year. He noted similar issues have arisen in Bansham and Kylosti and said Deputy Murphy had raised related concerns previously.
Calls for ministerial engagement and official response
McGrath praised Mr Minerhan for assisting with engagement between the ANCSE and the school and urged further action from the minister. A responding member said they would speak with the two ministers responsible and try to find a resolution that works for the children and the community.
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Transcript
education has just left. I want to raise a situation about a special class in Ballapurine school in Tipperary. Now the principal there, Shane Morland, and the community council have come together there and when the council purchased the old school they've upgraded it with grant and they're willing to almost give that at a very low cost, a nominal fee to the school. Six children were enrolled in this class and they had approval. The ANCSE now has said that there was only one child in the class. There's actually six, five that have qualified from the school for the special needs class. So they're really left in limbo and it's so late in the year now. I know Michael Minerhan, to be fair Mr Minerhan, is doing his best and he's assisting that the ANCSE engage with the school because there is goodwill there. Community council want the buildings on the same campus, it's a unique situation but they need that those people had the expectation of a place and now it's been pulled. The same has happened in Bansham, maybe it wasn't gone as far and Kylosti and I know Deputy Murphy raised this last week as well so we need engagement from the Minister McAdee and we need the ANCSE to be fair here and acknowledge that there are five children in the school. My own daughter must trust her teachers there and I'm very happy there as well so I know the situation intimately as Deputy Murphy does from Councils Murphy and the Council of Maury McGrath as well and it's a situation that I was so excited looking for the school. The building is ready, it will officially open the building shortly and we need a resolution. Thank you very much to Deputy McGrath for raising this important matter and I will speak with both Minister McEntee and Minister Moynihan in relation to that and see if we can find a resolution that works for everybody and most particularly works for the children who I am sure their excitement was palpable in relation to this. Let me talk to the two ministers and ask them to come back to you directly and see if progress can be made.