By James Ward and Michelle Devane, PA
The Taoiseach is being urged to intervene in the ongoing row over reopening schools for special needs children this week.
In a statement on Friday, the Department of Education said agreement had been reached with stakeholders about guidelines for a safe reopening, with a view to pupils returning to classrooms this Thursday.
But, following a webinar briefing with public health doctors on Monday, the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (Into) called for a rethink of those plans, saying safety concerns have not been adequately addressed.
Labour leader Alan Kelly has now called on Micheál Martin to intervene.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, he said: “This is a complete mess, it should never have got to here and really the Taoiseach needs to intervene and actually the Government needs to make decisions.
“I can’t tolerate this, a view that they tried to let creep out, that this is somehow the trade unionists’ fault. It is not.
“Trade unions look after their members. There are genuine health and safety concerns for many different reasons in relation to community transmission and whether they will be safe or not.
“It’s quite obvious from the webinar last night that these unions and their members were not convinced by what they heard so I have to ask the question: why was it announced last Friday so? That these were opening when everything wasn’t squared away.
We must resist attempt to sow division between SEN teachers/SNAs & parents.
These forces working together have been powerful advocates for children with additional needs.
Taoiseach now needs to take control of the education mess.
See my statement here: https://t.co/yGrKFmhCLK
— Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (@AodhanORiordain) January 19, 2021
“This is something that keeps happening with the Department of Education in relation to the Leaving Cert, in relation to other issues, so why does this keep happening?
“It can be hopefully rescued but we should never, ever get to this place.
“The most vulnerable in our society, those family and parents have been given false hope at a time like this, it’s incredibly wrong and incredibly badly handed by the Government.”
Into’s central executive committee (CEC) said teachers’ “grave safety concerns” need to be addressed before pupils with special needs return to the classroom, and that those concerns had not been adequately addressed by Monday’s public health webinar or the Government.
Sinn Féin health spokesman David Cullinane described the situation as “shambolic”.
“There’s a lack of genuine and sincere negotiation and consultation with stakeholder groups,” he said.
“The fits and starts that we’re seeing here in relation to special schools is deeply unfortunate.
“I know from engaging with many parents and indeed SNAs (special needs assistants), everyone wants to see those services opened. But it has to be on the basis of safety. It has to be on the basis of genuine consultation with stakeholder groups.”
The union Forsa, which represents 15,000 non-teaching education staff such as SNAs, is to decide on Tuesday whether to back the proposed return.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly and public health officials took part in the Department of Education webinar.
Teachers, special needs assistants and members of the public tuned into the meeting, which was live streamed on YouTube.
It had had some 40,000 views by Monday evening.
"We will continue to be constructive and work with our colleagues in Fórsa and with the Department of Education towards the safe, orderly reopening of schools.”
(ends)
Full update: https://t.co/n1VKW1dFRj
— INTO (@INTOnews) January 18, 2021
In a statement, Into said: “Teachers are understandably and justifiably anxious about their own safety and that of their pupils whilst community infection levels remain very high.
“The public health webinar, organised by the Department of Education, following an Into call for up-to-date information, failed to allay teachers’ fears.”
It added: “We will continue to engage with the department and public health authorities in an effort to work towards a safe, phased reopening. However, up-to-date, reliable information and supports are essential if this effort is to succeed.”
The union’s general secretary, John Boyle, said the Government must take responsibility for “poor and untimely communication and mixed messages over the past two weeks”.
“The failure of Minister (Norma) Foley and Minister (Josepha) Madigan to engage in proper consultation in the last two weeks has been very damaging and it has hampered the planning for the safe reopening of schools,” he said.
“We have made progress on some of our key concerns in recent days, but there is more work to be done to ensure the safety of staff, pupils and their families, including a higher prioritisation of education staff for vaccination.
“We will continue to be constructive and work with our colleagues in Forsa and with the Department of Education towards the safe, orderly reopening of schools.”
Into president Mary Magner said: “I know this is the last thing teachers want to be worrying about as they exhaustively strive to support pupils remotely.
“We have heard the concerns of teachers in recent days and, while teachers across the country are keen to get back to the classroom, they are scared.
“Teachers are committed to supporting their vulnerable pupils but the safety of staff is vital.”
Into’s CEC will meet on Tuesday to assess the situation further.
