If the Government does not reverse the decision to cut resource and special needs teachers in Galway, they will hinder the efforts being made by non-national children to integrate into the education system and Irish society.
This is the view of Independent Galway City East councillor Declan McDonnell, who has written to the Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe asking him to reconsider his decision to cut resource and special needs teachers in Galway. The cuts could see seven teachers let go in Mervue school, despite the fact that there are 189 non-national pupils attending. Tirellan and Renmore schools will also be affected by these cuts along with other city schools.
In his letter, Cllr McDonnell outlines the difficulties that would be faced by the pupils in the affected schools, if special education and resource teachers are let go.
“These teachers’ main purpose is to help non-nationals integrate into mainstream education and you can imagine what will happen if these teachers are let go,” he said. “Our teachers will become minders rather than educators and this would be a disgrace, as Ireland has always had a reputation for its high educational standards.”
