Fianna Fáil spokesperson on Education, Thomas Byrne TD, has reiterated his call on the Minister for Education to urgently introduce measures to monitor the use of reduced timetables.
His call is made following the publication of a report by Inclusion Ireland and Technological University Dublin which found that one in four children with a disability had their hours in school cut. This number jumped to one in three for children with autism.
Deputy Byrne said, “It is time to put an end to this national scandal. Again and again, Fianna Fáil have called on the Minister for Education to ensure that reduced timetables are not used in inappropriate circumstances. However, today’s report tells a different story.
“The official position is clear, the Department states that children are entitled to be at school for the full day. Tusla have confirmed that they consider reduced hours to be a suspension. The constitutional rights of some of the most vulnerable children in our education system are being denied through an illegal practice.
“The Minister has seen fit to turn a blind eye to this matter. That has to end once and for all. Fianna Fáil are calling for the urgent introduction of Department of Education monitoring of schools regarding this matter, legislation governing these practices and engagement with schools to find out why this practice appears to be growing while ensuring schools have the adequate resources to provide children with an education,” concluded Deputy Byrne.
