Less than a fortnight after the Department of Special Education committed to delivering a special school for County Monaghan by next September, Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy is applying pressure on the government to make their plans clear. Deputy Carthy has asked a series of parliamentary questions of the government about the location of the new school, whether it will be a permanent or temporary structure and how many children it will cater for.
According to Deputy Carthy there will be a need for "vigilance" to ensure that the "belated promise" for a Special School for County Monaghan is upheld. Deputy Carthy, who has worked closely with campaigning families for adequate disability services for County Monaghan, has said that it is imperative that the Special School must cater for all children that need it. Speaking to Northern Sound, he outlined his concern over the lack of detail forthcoming from the Minister for Education to official Dáil questions he had asked.
Deputy Carthy explained; "We need this clarity because we need to make absolutely certain that every child who needs access to a special school in County Monaghan actually gets that access. The lack of detail available this far proves that the decision was made on the back of public pressure – and that the pressure must continue. We have current parties of government that force families of children and young adults with disabilities to fight every day. If Sinn Féin are in government, I can commit that we will accept no excuse to exclude Monaghan in the manner that has happened before."
