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THE SPECIAL NEEDS Parents Association has said it hopes jeers directed at Fianna Fáil during a protest over cuts yesterday don’t distract from the issues at hand.
At a protest outside Leinster House in Dublin last night, which was attended by around 700 people, when Fianna Fáil Deputy Micheál Martin spoke to parents, SNAs and members of disability rights groups, he was heckled by a small number of people in the crowd.
The hecklers shouted ‘Shame on you!’ at the deputy.
Respectful
Today, Lorraine Dempsey of the Special Needs Parents Association told TheJournal.ie that regarding any actions by individuals who were at the demonstration, “we need to be very respectful of there being children there, we need to be mindful that the focus is kept on the issue we were there to raise and not get distracted”.
She said she was disappointed that the jeers could have detracted from why the protesters were there in the first place.
In total, there were 11 demonstrations held across the country to highlight a 10 per cent cut to Special Needs Assistant (SNA) support which parents say will be evident in the coming school year this September.
Around 700 people attended the protest in Dublin and between 100 and 200 people protested at each of the other locations, which included Cork, Ennis, Limerick and Letterkenny.
Cumulatively this led to a better turnout than if one protest had been held in Dublin alone, said Dempsey, which the organisation is extremely happy with.
Dempsey said that they “were particularly heartened by the number of teachers and principals and special needs assistants” that turned up for the national protests.
Fianna Fáil Education Spokesperson Charlie McConalogue welcomed Ms Dempsey’s comments, saying:
It was very disappointing that a small group of political protestors were allowed to disrupt what was a family event and take away from the precious publicity that parents of children with special needs were trying to generate for their cause.
He added that there is “no doubt that there is a lot of anger out there among families with children with special needs and we absolutely respect that”.
But parents also respect the fact that last night’s family event was held to coincide with a Fianna Fáil Dáil motion calling for SNA cuts to be reversed. They were welcoming of the small Ógra presence who came along to show their support. The activities of those who were determined to cause disruption reflects no way on the excellent work of the Special Needs Parents Association and should not be allowed to distract from it.
Meeting with Education Minister
Disability groups comprising Inclusion Ireland, Special Needs Parents Association, Irish Autism Action, Irish Society for Autism, Dyspraxia Association, Irish National Council of ADHD Support Groups and the National Parents Council met with Education Minister Ruairí Quinn yesterday.
Following the meeting, they said that they were told that 10,575 SNA positions exist and that number will be retained, with a further 80 posts to be allocated from September onwards.
With regard to the 10 per cent increase in numbers of children presenting with additional needs qualifying for SNA support, the Minister told them that this only equates to a 2 per cent increase in terms of whole-time SNA posts and falls within the overall cap on SNA numbers, said the groups.
This means that the 2 per cent increase would have to be met within the budgetary allocation of 10,575 posts.
The group said that they were concerned that shared access by children to SNA support “does not in itself address the needs of those children in an appropriate manner”.
They said that this would be evidenced by “trying to meet the needs of 2,000 extra children within the current allocation with the inevitable outcome that shared access to SNAs by children with additional needs will become much more prevalent, leading to a reduction on the quality of support for all children with identified needs”.
Wow, so young. RIP Liam
‘I remember that summer in Dublin’
A voice so good he could be mistaken for Elton John. RIP.
I love his voice and I love their lyrics. The timeless music will live on in perpetuity, so sad that Liam won’t be around anymore to see the joy it brings. Rest in peace maestro. Thank you.
R.I.P. very sad to hear this.
What truly wonderful songs they were.
Summer in Dublin is iconic.
Sincere condolences to all his family and friends.
Thank you for the music.
Xxx
Rock n Roll will never forget him.
Very sad news RIP Liam loved your song Summer in Dublin.
One of the best if not the best band to come out of ireland and Liam was super talented
RIP.
@Eugene Larkin: don’t agree with that
@Eugene Larkin: bit of a stretch there lad
@James Lough: he is entitled to his opinion !!
Brilliant singer and songs from a great band. RIP Liam
So sad, had tickets to see them last May in the Purty Kitchen but was postponed. Can’t believe we won’t see him sing live again. RIP Liam your music will live on.
Sleep peacefully in your heavenly bed R.I.P LIAM
In the end he left on a Friday morning… RIP Liam
“So I’m leavin’ on Wednesday morning tryin’ to find a place where I can hear
The tunes of the birds and the sea on the rocks, where open roads always are near,
And if sometimes I tire of the quiet, and I want to walk back up that hill,
I’ll just get on the road and stick out my thumb.
I know that you’ll be there still”
Shocked and saddened to hear of Liam’s passing this morming. I first saw Bagatelle in 1982 when they played in Bandon and many times at Siamsa.
My sincere consolences to his family and bandmates. RIP Liam
Used to go to the Baggot Inn to hear him play. Great memories. Rest In Peace Liam.
Summer in Dublin always brings me back to my 21st birthday.
My then boyfriend and I spent a week in Dublin after celebrating my 21st birthday at home( no lavish parties then).
We stayed in Leopardstown and got the 46A bus into town everyday. It was a lovely time and I never hear Summer in Dublin without being reminded of it.
RIP Liam and thanks for the memories
@Mary Walshe: I spent a few years in College in Dublin many years ago and just that mention of the 46A in that gorgeous song brings me back… it really conjures up the Dublin I knew and loved and which I fear is long gone. RIP Liam.
Saw them in the Jet club in Ennis nearly 40 years ago. Great gig. May he Rest in peace
RIP
Honored to have wrote the bands biography and worked with liam. musical genuis
@Brian Kennedy: do you have a link for it?
@Brian Kennedy: ‘to have wrote’!
@Brian Kennedy: I got my copy today looking forward to reading it. Gabrielle
@Seosamh: book is on http://www.briankennedywriter.com (just click Buy Now) or on Amazon (Uk) paperback or kindle
Condolences, some really great and well structured songs deserved more attention..
Ah so young .. very sad I had the privilege of seeing Bagatelle Live a few times in Dublin and other places in Ireland, they were an amazing live Band..RIP Liam
So sorry to hear this news. Summer in Dublin was a classic . Condolences to his family .
So saddend to wake up to this news. An outstanding musician and songwriter. Remember Summer in Dublin a No 1 hit in May 1980 when I came to Dublin. Discovered the 46A bus went to Dun Laoighre.. RIP Liam
Buíochas as an ceol iontach; mairfidh sin go deo, agus do ainm leis.
Shocked and saddened to hear of Liam’s passing this morning. I first saw Bagatelle in 1982 when they played in Bandon and many times at Siamsa.
My sincere consolences to his family and bandmates. RIP Liam
So sorry to hear about the death of Liam Reilly yesterday.
A sad day for music.
I toured with Bagatelle back in the early 80s when we worked with real sound systems!!
At the time we were the biggest in the country
A lot of hard work but serious craic!
We met up a few years ago (after 34 years!!) and they were great crack and courteous.
Good times indeed .
RIP Liam.
Such a talent. Summer in Dublin hit a cord with so many….. so relatable. It will live on for ever.
RIP Paddy
Rip… Excellent singer, songwriter..love their rendition of Jersey Girl… Going on to Spotify now to have a listen to some timeless classics.
Had tickets to see them in the Purty Kitchen last May but it was postponed. Can’t believe we won’t see them live again. RIP Liam your music will live on
Ireland’s Elton RIP…
His songs will live forever..
Bagatelle were a bit before my time but I did have the pleasure of seeing him perform back in the 90s at a corporate event. I genuinely felt for him because he performed his set during the meal which seemed to me to be a bit odd. Still had what it took and did a great show. A fine talent gone too soon.
RIP
RIP liam
Remember buying their Summer in Dublin album in little record shop in Wexford St. In 1979 and still have it. Played it non stop, analysised the cover, the song words etc visualised the songs and played regularly.
12 amazing songs.
RIP Liam such a great band to go see in the 80′s, Bagatelle always drew a crowd, Liam has left us with fabulous songs, too young.
R.I.P Liam such a talented musician your music will always live on.
Second violin and Leeson St Lady absolute classics. Listened to the band through the ‘80’s and thankfully someone brought me to see them in The Olympia a couple of years ago.
RIP Liam My prayers and thoughts are with you and you family .You were a legend .
RIP Liam, I loved Bagatelle
Great singer and band. Sad news to start the year. R.I.P. Liam
Such sad news, Summer in Dublin just takes me back to my youth. Could jump on a 46A only for the restrictions. RIP Liam
yesterday.
A sad day for music.
I toured with Bagatelle back in the early 80s when we worked with real sound systems!!
At the time we were the biggest in the country
A lot of hard work but serious craic!
We met up a few years ago (after 34 years!!) and they were great crack and courteous.
Good times indeed .
RIP Liam.
“As the liffey as it stank like hell”. Never a truer was word sung.
Johnny Set Em Up Tonight.
Sad to hear of his passing at such a young age. Thoughts are with his family.
May he rest in peace
These guys were probably one of the best bands if not the best band to come of ireland and Liam was the the King, long live bagatelle music.
RIP what a legend of a man thought are with he’s family.
Never realised that Bagatelle were from Dundalk. 65 is very young to die these days, RIP Liam.
So sad-such a great talent. RIP
Olympic Ballroom in Newcastle West ..County Limerick ..lined up outside ,till We packed in like sardines then onto Chip wagon for a Belly full of grease & on out toward some gap with Molly in the Ford Capri…windows down slapping ould tape into Dashboard banging out Lesson st Lady …Thanks for the memories Liam may you rest in peace…
Play your second violin now Liam. Rest easy sir.
Ana-cheoltóir! Suaimhneas síoraí dá anam
Sincerest condolences to Liams family and friends from Killarney
Thank you for the music,Eternal rest Liam ,until we meet again.
Summer in Dublin. Brings back so many memories. And I was 14.
R.I.P.
Sad news respect what a gent r.i.p.
Very sad,another great loss RIP
RIP Liam. So sad. Condolences to all his family and friends
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