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"Parents being denied their rights" 20.06.08

INISHOWEN Councillor Pádraig MacLochlainn has commended a local group of campaigning parents of special needs children.
The parents from all around the peninsula are fighting for the right to appeal the removal or denial of a special needs assistant for their children.
Speaking after attending a packed meeting organised by the parents in the Strand Hotel, Ballyliffin, last Monday night, Cllr Mac Lochlainn said:
"I wish to publicly commend and offer my full support to these courageous parents. The huge attendance at their public meeting last Monday night speaks volumes about the mood across Inishowen on this issue," said Cllr. MacLochlainn.
"The parents, with the full support of the schools across the peninsula, want the right to appeal controversial decisions by the special education needs organiser (SENO) to remove or deny the allocation of special needs assistants (SNAs) to their children."
The Buncrana-based town and county councillor said it was "remarkable" that one person could be given the power to overrule a multi disciplinary team of professionals and deny the support to special needs children that their parents and schools seek.
"What is even more remarkable is that this person is not accountable to anyone affected by the decision," he explained.
Cllr. MacLochlainn said he had now briefed his party's education spokesperson, Senator Pearse Doherty who would raise the matter in the Seanad. "The Government must now immediately enact the Education For Persons With Special Educational Needs Act 2004 (EPSEN Act) to ensure the right of these families and schools to appeal controversial decisions by SENOs," he added.
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