Catherine Ardagh: Dragging stressed-out parents of children who need special education to courts should be a source of shame
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Catherine Ardagh: Dragging stressed-out parents of children who need special education to courts should be a source of shame
"While the department tries to project a narrative of things being under control, nobody affected is buying it. Minister of State with responsibility for special education Michael Moynihan has done an exceptional job since he took up that post approximately eight months ago. I say that clearly and unequivocally at the outset because much of what I write from here will be speaking about failings in the provision of special education and I want to acknowledge the work Michael has done."
"Minister of State with responsibility for special education Michael Moynihan has done an exceptional job since he took up that post approximately eight months ago. I say that clearly and unequivocally at the outset because much of what I write from here will be speaking about failings in the provision of special education and I want to acknowledge the work Michael has done."
The department projects that special education is under control, but affected families and stakeholders remain unconvinced. Minister of State Michael Moynihan has performed exceptionally since taking responsibility roughly eight months ago. Significant failings persist in special education provision, including unmet needs, service gaps and systemic shortcomings that undermine confidence. Families experience delays, inadequate supports and unclear accountability despite ministerial competence. The contrast between effective individual leadership and broader structural problems highlights a need for urgent improvements in delivery, transparency, resource allocation and responsiveness to restore trust among those reliant on special education services.
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