Speech and Language Therapy at St Mary's to be maintained

There was great news for students parents and staff at St Mary's Special School today (Wednesday) when it was confirmed that Speech and Language services would be retained at the school.

Principal Maria Corredor confirmed the good news this afternoon following a meeting with the HSE.

"We will be maintaining our Speech and Language Therapist. This is wonderful news for our students,” she said.

Ms Corredor met with the HSE's Diability Manager for Meath and the Children's Disability Network manager this afternoon.

"It was a positive meeting," she said.

The news follows a meeting last night in Ashbourne at which Disabilities Minister, Anne Rabitte aid that the Speech and Languae Therapist would be maintained and the post should not have been removed,

It also emerged yesterday, that Minister Rabbitte had directed the HSE to reinstate all therapists lost to Cork special schools.

There had been a furious reaction when St Mary's Specfial School was told by the HSE in recent weeks that the school would be losing it Speech and Language Therapy service.

Almost 1,400 people signed an Uplift petition, set up by Cllr Alan Lawes, calling for the retention of the speech and language therapist at St Mary's.

Ms Corredor had described the proposal as very worrying.

“This will have a negative effect on children, our speech and language therapist is outstanding. What is proposed is very serious and upsetting,” she had warned.