Parents 'devastated' after special school in Cork forced to limit hours over staff shortages

Parents at a Cork special school catering for 54 children with severe intellectual disabilities have said they are “devastated” after learning last night that staff shortages mean the school will move to a part-time schedule from Monday.

St Gabriel’s Special School in Bishopstown has 54 students, mostly aged four to 18, who have severe intellectual disabilities, autism, and complex needs.

Last night, parents at the special school received an email from the school’s board of management informing them that, from Monday, all pupils are to be moved to “a temporary part-time attendance schedule”.

The email stated that in recent weeks, “several serious incidents have occurred within the school environment”.

These incidents resulted in injury to staff and pupils, “instances of pupils absconding from supervision, instances of seclusion and withdrawal (which are not allowable under current Department of Education guidelines), and situations requiring emergency medical intervention”.

The board of management said the new temporary schedule will mean children who have been “identified as high-risk due to crisis behaviour” will attend three days per week, while those designated as being lower risk will attend four days per week.

These were part of “urgent measures being taken in response to the ongoing critical staffing shortage”, the school said, “particularly in the area of Special Needs Assistants (SNAs)”.

“Despite the school’s best efforts, current staffing levels are insufficient to safely support all pupils with intensive care and supervision needs,” the email said.

“This decision has been made in consultation with school leadership and is based on a detailed assessment of pupil needs and available staff.

“It is a temporary measure aimed at prioritising safety and care while the school continues to seek urgent additional support from the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).” 

Individual pupil schedules will be emailed to families today.

One parent of a child in St Gabriel’s told The Echo  that parents were “devastated” at the news.

“For most families this is their one bit of respite during the day and now it’s being pulled, which is absolutely appalling,” they said.

“I know the school is only doing what they have to do to keep people safe, because they have no choice, but there are parents there who are trying to work who won’t be able to go to work now.” 

Pat Buckley, Sinn Féin TD for Cork East, said he had been contacted by several parents who were “distraught” at the news.

“I know parents who are driving an hour or more to bring their kids to St Gabriel’s, parking up outside the school while their children are inside, and driving them home again afterwards,” 

he said.

“The one bit of respite they get in the day might be a cup of coffee in the car and read the news on their phone.

“It is absolutely appalling that the most vulnerable people are treated as third-class citizens in a country ranked third richest in the world by GDP per capita, not least when you think of the money parents of children with disabilities save the State every year,” Mr Buckley said.

“I am appealing to [education minister] Helen McEntee to intervene directly and live up to the promise she made to parents that no child would be left behind.

“And I am appealing directly to Taoiseach Micheál Martin to intervene in the school he opened in 1998 when he was education minister.” 

The Department of Education was asked for comment.