Another head of government has been challenged over the lack of special needs services for Monaghan children. Earlier this week, Cavan-Monaghan TD Niamh Smyth, impressed on Tánaiste Michéal Martin the "absolute need" for a special school in the county.
Speaking to the Tániaste in the Dáil, Deputy Smyth, told her party colleague to "do what it takes" to deliver the school and children's respite services. She said that while the Holy Family School in her home county of Cavan is "incredible", it is a "victim of its own success" in that it is full to capacity and, in any case, is too far for young Monaghan children to travel to for school.
Deputy Smyth told the Tánaiste nothing less than dedicated services for Monaghan will do and she told Northern Sound. she believes Michéal Martin understands the message coming from parents: "The Tániaste is very familiar with the issue and the problem and obviously keeps abreast of developments with Minister Norm Foley and Minister for Anne Rabbitte," Niamh Smyth told Northern Sound, "Respite services that we have are shared between Cavan and Monaghan and is also shared between adults and children and, again, it's quite clear to me that parents feel that a children's -only respite service is what's required fro full-time use by parents of the area so that they get the respite, to give them that breathing space and recuperate themselves from being full-time carers."
