Special needs or Irish language, which will Department fund? asks Allister
08 December 2009
Statement by TUV Leader, Jim Allister"Following my recent expression of opposition to wasting scarce resources on an Irish language school in Ballymena, I have been contacted by parents with instances of hardship being inflicted because of inadequate funding of real educational needs.
"One such matter pertains to the provision of education for those with autistic needs. I am aware of a case where because there is no parallel or equivalent provision within the Ballymena borough an eight year old autistic child has to be taxied every day from Broughshane to the Model School in Ballymoney as it, apparently, is the nearest school with a specialist unit equipped with the requisite skills.
"Why is there not such a unit in the Ballymena Borouigh and why in these circumstances of real unmet need is the Board contemplating wasting dwindling resources on an unnecessary Irish landuage school? Parents of children who require these facilities expect the Board to get its priorities right and to put educational need before pandering to the political agenda of the Minister.
"Likewise, Castle Tower Special School is struggling for funds: someone somewhere really has got their priorities wrong when they think Irish medium education is more important.
"It is wholly unsatisfactory that in a borough as large as Ballymena all the special educational needs cannot be met within the borough. So long as that is the case there should be no question of diverting resources into the recreational hobby of an Irish medium school."
