Boy with autism to lose place in special school due to cutbacks

A boy from North East Galway with autism will lose his place at a special school in Galway City – because Government has pulled the plug on funding of a bus service.

And there are fears that the cruel cuts to school transport to St Anne’s School in Merlin Park, could threaten the very future of the facility, as new pupils cannot apply for a transport grant.

The 10-year-old from near Mountbellew was due to start school in St Anne’s School in Merlin Park, also known as Scoil Áine, this September. He suffers from ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), autism, dyspraxia, which is a developmental co-ordination disorder, and oppositional behavioural disorder.

He was referred to the school by North Galway CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service) but the grant for transporting him to the city has been axed by the Department of Education.

Principal of the school, Geraldine Donnelly, broke the bad news to the family by letter.

“I am writing to you to let you know that I am unable to apply on your behalf for school transport/transport grant for (child’s name) for September to support his placement in St Anne’s school. The Department of Education and Skills, Special Education Section has withdrawn the School Transport Resource from St. Anne’s School, effective from September.

“The existing students who already have access to transport are allowed that provision for the remainder of their placements in the school, but no new applications will be accepted from the school.

“It is with regret that I have to send you this notification as I know it may have very significant implications for you in accessing the school placement for (child’s name). The CAMHS service is aware of this resource withdrawal for St Anne’s school.”

Galway East Fianna Fáil TD Anne Rabbitte, who is lobbying the authorities on behalf of the child, said the family has no alternative.

“He has four other siblings who are going to school, and there is no way of getting him into the city every morning. What may end up happening is this child may have to go back into mainstream school, which is very unfair,” said Deputy Rabbitte.

“On a broader issue, I would be very, very concerned that the funding for new applications is now gone. It means that the very viability of the school is under threat. If children can’t get transport to access the school, then the demand for school places will go down, because they cannot get to the school from the county, and then over a number of years the department will turn around and say that they cannot keep the school open because the figures won’t justify it and there isn’t the demand. The demand is there, but they’re penny-pinching on transport/ This is a terrible tragedy for this autistic boy near Mountbellew but the bigger picture is St Anne’s is under threat from Government cutbacks.”

She said this was another example of the cruel cuts being inflicted on people with disabilities from this Government. “These cuts to transport, on top of the despicable cut of taking away €31.80 in a training allowance for people with disability, highlights where this Government’s priorities lie,” added Deputy Rabbitte.