Special classes axed across country

The response by Minister for Education Batt O’Keeffe to the appeals by primary schools against the closure of special classes has been “minimalist and totally inadequate”, the Irish National Teachers' Organisation (INTO) said today.

General secretary of the INTO John Carr told the Irish Times the response leaves hundreds of special needs children in dozens of primary schools without the "vital service".

Earlier this year the Minister announced the closure of 128 special classes in 119 schools for children with mild general learning difficulties. More than forty schools appealed the decision to the Minister and today it was announced that only ten of the classes will be retained.

The following schools, who appealed the decision, will have special classes closed:St Anne's NS, Bailieborough, Co Cavan - 1 class to be closed,St Joseph's NS, Macroom Road, Coolock, D17 - 1 class to be closed,St Michael's GNS, Arklow, co Wicklow - 1 class to be closed,St Fergal's SNS, Boghall Road, Bray, Co Wicklow - 1 class to be closed,Mary Queen of Angels NS, Ballyfermot, D10 - 1 class to be closed,Sacred Heart School, Sruleen, Clondalkin, D22 - 1 class to be closed,Convent of Mercy JNS, Castleblaney, Monaghan - 1 class to be closed,St Michael's NS, Domincan Campus, Ballyfermot, D10 - 1 class to be closed,Mercy Primary School, Birr, Co Offaly - 1 class to be closed,Virgin Mary Girls & Boys' NS, Ballymun, D9 2 classes to be closed,St Oliver's NS, Ballycasheen, Killarney, Co Kerry - 1 class to be closed,Sc Chaitriona JNS & SNS, Renmore, Co Galway - 2 classes to be closed,Mallow Convent NS, Mallow, Co Cork - 2 MGLD classes to be closed. One class since re-designated as an autism class,Convent of Mercy NS, Kilrush, Co Clare - 1 class to be closed,Mary Queen of Angels NS, Ballyfermot, D 10 - 1 class to be closed,St Catherine's SNS, Ratoath Road, Cabra, Dublin 7 - 1 class to be closed,St Mary's NS, Bancroft Avenue, Greenhills Road, Tallaght - 1 class to be closed,St Cronan's SNS, Brackenstown, Swords - 1 class to be closed,St Brendan's BNS, Birr, Co Offaly - 1 class to be closed,St Mary's BNS, St Mary's Hill, Monaghan - 1 class to be closed,Sacred Heart SNS, Killinarden, Tallaght, D24 - 2 classes to be closed,St Aidan's NS, Brookfield, D24 - 1 class to be closed,St Brendan's BNS McAuley Road Artane, D5 - 1 class to be closed,St Peter Apostle SNS Neilstown Clondalkin, D 22 - 1 class to be closed,St Kevins BNS Barry Avenue Finglas West , D11 - 1 class to be closed,St Francis' JNS Priorswood, D17 - 1 class to be closed,St Joseph's Arklow - 1 class to be closed,St Peter Apostle JNS - 1 class to be closed,St Mary's JNS, Rowlagh, Clondalkin - 1 class to be closed,St Joseph's SNS, Balcurris, Ballymun - 1 class to be closed,St Eithne's NS, Edenmore, Dublin 5 - 1 class to be closed,St Helen's SNS, Portmarnock, Co Dublin - 1 class to be closed,Dominican convent Wicklow/Rathdrum Wicklow - 2 classes to be closed.

Health services boost for border counties

€30m in EU funding has been secured for health services in the border region.

It will be used to finance 12 major health and social care projects, for people on both sides of the border. The money was secured from an EU programme for cross border health and social care services, according to RTE News. It will enable people living in border areas to be able to access health services in the opposite jurisdiction, which are often closer to their homes.

The allocation of the money will be managed by the Co-operation and Working Together cross border health services partnership on behalf of the Departments of Health in Northern Ireland and the Republic.

Doherty's suspension is halved

Derry midfielder Fergal Doherty has had his eight-week suspension halved to four following an appearance before the Central Hearings Committee at Croke Park on Wednesday night.

The suspension came about following the Ulster SFC encounter between Derry and Monaghan on 24 May, reports RTE Sport.

Doherty used video evidence to help reduce the ban and will be available to play for Oak Leaf county again in the Ulster final on 19 July, asumming the beat Tyrone in the provincial semi-final on Sunday week.

North West European Election Seats Filled

The three seats in the North West European constituency were filled in the early hours this morning.

Independent Marian Harkin (left), Pat the Cope Gallagher of Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael's Jim Higgins were all elected on the sixth count without reaching the quota. After a lengthy count and a detailed recheck of over 500,000 ballot papers in the constituency, just 1,487 votes separated the three successful candidates at the end of the proceedings in Castlebar.

Libertas leader Declan Ganley resigned from politics following the election count.

Energy company announces 1500 jobs

A Cootehill-based company has announced an ambitious expansion to create 10 wind-farms in Ireland.

Gaeltech Energy plan to invest €740 million in the project which it says will create up to 1,500 jobs during the construction phase. Gaeltech energy says its wind farm project will be able to provide electricity to over 135,000 houses when completed.

The company will locate the wind farms in Cavan, Monaghan, Roscommon, Westmeath, Meath, Sligo, Offaly, Laois and Longford. According to a statement issued by Gaeltech, 1500 jobs will be created during the construction phase of the project and a further 3,500 will be created in supporting industries.

EUR1.8m For HSE West Under Special Housing Aid For The Elderly Scheme

Minister of State and Clare T.D., Tony Killeen confirmed today that the Government has allocated EUR1.8m to the Health Service Executive (HSE) Western Area to carry out essential repairs to homes occupied by elderly persons living on their own.

The grant aid, provided under the Special Housing Aid for the Elderly (SHAE) Scheme, will enable works to be carried out on the homes of thousands of applicants. The Minister said that the EUR1.8m allocated to HSE West this week was the largest under the Scheme’s allocation for 2009. Elsewhere, EUR700k was allocated to HSE Dublin/North East, and EUR500k was provided to HSE Dublin/Mid Leinster and HSE Southern.

“I was delighted to receive confirmation of the allocation from my Ministerial colleague Michael Finneran, T.D., Minister for Housing, Urban Renewal and Developing Areas. The funding under the scheme allows for work to be carried out in homes at a minimal cost to the State, allowing older people to live in their own homes for longer, which is what this Government wants to encourage as much as possible”, explained Minister Killeen.