School closures: Parents of children with special needs threaten legal action Letters on behalf of 200 parents issued to Department of Education and unions
Fri, Jan 22, 2021, 17:50 Updated: Fri, Jan 22, 2021, 17:51
Up to 200 parents of children with additional needs are threatening to take legal action against the Department of Education and unions over the continued closure of special schools.
A leading human rights solicitors’ firm is preparing a small number of test cases which will be submitted to the High Court next week if a resolution to the current dispute is not solved over the coming days.
Gareth Noble of KOD Lyons Solicitors said children have a “constitutional right” to an education that is suitable and appropriate to their needs, but he said vulnerable children are caught in a “blame game” between the department and unions.
Level 5 Restrictions To Remain Into February, Irish Premier Confirms
Sat, 23rd Jan 2021 10:44
(Alliance News) - Ireland s lockdown restrictions will not be eased at the end of this month, the Taoiseach has confirmed.
Micheal Martin also said Level 5 restrictions would continue into February given the high level of community transmission that still exists.
The government s Cabinet sub-committee on Covid-19 is due to meet on Monday to discuss the extension of the current restrictions, which are due to remain in place until January 31.
A final decision will be made on Tuesday following a Cabinet meeting.
Friday saw a further 52 deaths and 2,371 new cases of Covid-19 reported by the Department of Health.
Medics in PPE and ambulances outside the Accident and Emergency department at the Mater Hospital in Dublin (Niall Carson/PA)
Speaking at Government Buildings on Friday Mr Martin said: “There is no talk at the moment in terms of any relaxation or reversing of restrictions at the end of this month.
“We are looking at a continuation of restrictions into February.
“You can take it that we’ll take stock every four weeks of the situation.”
He added: “Given the high level of community transmission out there still, and it is very high out there, I don’t think one can envisage any significant relaxation of restrictions at this particular point in time.”
Vivienne Clarke
The HSE’s chief clinical officer has said that Covid-19 transmission levels are too high for schools to reopen at the moment.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Dr Colm Henry said he hoped there would be an approach to reopening which would give priority status to “certain elements of the education sector.”
It was “tragic” to be talking about schools remaining closed, he said. “We learned from the first surge about how much harm was done to children, especially early school children, particularly in special needs environments, when there was a pause in education.”
Nobody wanted to see the schools’ closure to be protracted because of what had happened “the first time.”