DUP MLA for North Belfast and member of the Assembly’s Education Committee, Nelson McCausland, has criticised Sinn Fein for attempting to play politics with the issue of special educational needs. Mr McCausland said;
"The DUP has made it very clear in the past the importance we place upon special educational needs and that this is an area which deserves specific legislation. Sinn Fein is very well aware of our position and our keenness to see improvements in special needs provision. We forwarded amended proposals to Sinn Fein some time ago now, but they have yet to respond. Furthermore we have also tabled a motion for debate in the Assembly on the subject of special needs as follows:
That this Assembly calls on the Executive to bring forward as a matter of urgency a cross-Departmental strategy to improve the lives of those with special educational needs and their families.
My colleague on the Education Committee, Michelle McIlveen MLA has also within the last week tabled the following motion:
That this Assembly expresses its concern at the problems encountered by young people with learning difficulties during the transition from children’s to adult services; recognises the need for improved respite services; and calls on the Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety to address the current lack of facilities and services.
Sinn Fein has sought to tie a number of other matters in with special needs. While important in their own right these other issues should be dealt with separately and not permitted to delay the much needed enhancement of special needs provision. Indeed some of these other matters may not require legislation, and can be acted upon straight away. There are already genuine concerns about the resources available to meet even the requirements of all those with special needs appropriately.
It is the DUP’s desire for the proposals for special needs to be progressed at quickly as possible. We would hope that this could occur as early as the next Executive meeting if the desire exists within Sinn Fein.
It is unfortunate that Sinn Fein have again attempted to play politics with an issue such as special educational needs. This approach does nothing to build any kind of consensus on an issue and only brings it into the arena of party-political squabbling.
We want to see the very best services provided for those people who clearly have the greatest educational needs. This is a critical area and we will not allow the kind of political gamesmanship employed by Sinn Fein today to distract us from working towards the best outcome for all children in Northern Ireland."
