Disappointment has swept across Donegal in light of the HSEs recent decision to prematurely remove Special Needs Assistant grants to children with disabilities to enable them to attend pre-school in September this year.
Concerns have already been highlighted by Donegal County Childcare manager Avril Mc Monagle and Deputy Pearse Doherty who both believe that the cuts will be detrimental to the children affected – all of whom would be in their formative years.
The issue was the first to be raised at the Letterkenny Municipal District Meeting today at the Donegal County Council office, with many councellors highlighting the issue.
Councellor Mick Quinn stated that; ‘We are all astounded and shocked by the decision made by the HSE… to withdraw funding… and only in Donegal’. Cllr. Quinn calls on the HSE to amend this ‘hugely unfair issue’.
Many councellors agreed with this statement and stressed that the decision is ‘completely unacceptable’. The next HSE meeting will take place in September, but councillors feel as though this is much too late.
Councellor Ian Mc Garvey said that ‘it is too bad again that we see the people of Donegal being discriminated against’. The fact that such grants have not been revoked in other areas of Ireland is seen as unfair, with Cllr Mc Garvey punctuating his motion by saying ‘discrimination would be the word for it’.