Special needs individuals ill treatment by Fianna Fail

[BlueRepublic]

Recently it has been brought to public attention by Senator John Paul Phelan that the government has spent €26 milliion in the years 2004 to 2007 fighting against special needs education cases. The cases which seeked to instate every citizen of the Republics , no matter what their needs, right to education were fought by the government. Could the above stated monies not have been better put to use in assisting those less abled instead of adding to burden placed upon them and their struggling families.

[corelli]

Recently it has been brought to public attention by Senator John Paul Phelan that the government has spent €26 milliion in the years 2004 to 2007 fighting against special needs education cases. The cases which seeked to instate every citizen of the Republics , no matter what their needs, right to education were fought by the government. Could the above stated monies not have been better put to use in assisting those less abled instead of adding to burden placed upon them and their struggling families.

Yes, its a good point, however, the legal issues involved are quite complex. In a nutshell the people initiating these cases are doing so on the basis of their constitutional rights, BUT, they are what can be classed as economic social and cultural rights and as such are not judiciable before the courts under our constitution. It is a matter for the State to decide how to distribute the States resources.

The State are very conscious of what they consider as flood-gate litigation if they were to acklowledge the right to litigate any of these issues so therefore oppose them or, as happens in some cases that we dont hear of, settle them prior to trial.

These cases are usually taken, not in the hope of a win in the courts, but out of the belief that the State will settle, however, the State claims agency have indicated that these cases will be opposed so I don't really see why they commence them in the first place, though it's possibly through desperation I suppose. I find it hard to blame them!

[BlueRepublic]

The vast majority of the above actions were taken on the basis that special needs individuals were turned down by schools due to lack of resources and a failure to implement these resources. The question I pose is simple. Would the monies funding these state actions not have been better put to use in assisting the individual rather than hindering their already tough enough struggle through life.

[Aindriu]

The vast majority of the above actions were taken on the basis that special needs individuals were turned down by schools due to lack of resources and a failure to implement these resources. The question I pose is simple. Would the monies funding these state actions not have been better put to use in assisting the individual rather than hindering their already tough enough struggle through life.

Well said!

[corelli]

The vast majority of the above actions were taken on the basis that special needs individuals were turned down by schools due to lack of resources and a failure to implement these resources. The question I pose is simple. Would the monies funding these state actions not have been better put to use in assisting the individual rather than hindering their already tough enough struggle through life.

Well said!

Of course it would be better, much better. The fact remains though that the State will never accept the Courts telling them how to spend their money.

[BlueRepublic]

the State will never accept the Courts telling them how to spend their money.

Which is precisely this governments problem. They have simply spent too long in power and beleive they are a law unto themselves and are answerable to no one. I myself have seen first hand how this government treats special needs individuals. They quite frankly don't give a damn. This is not the only incidence of fianna fail victimising those with with disabilities.

Although of the cherry picking of students has only recently come to light, it is a practice which I know personnally has been around for some years now. Yet to this date fianna fail have done nothing to remedy the situation.

But this is just another example of fianna fails crass and uncaring attitude to our most vulnerable citizens. The fact of the matter is fianna fail care about nothing except power and the pursuit of power.

[gaelach]

The vast majority of the above actions were taken on the basis that special needs individuals were turned down by schools due to lack of resources and a failure to implement these resources. The question I pose is simple. Would the monies funding these state actions not have been better put to use in assisting the individual rather than hindering their already tough enough struggle through life.

Well said!

Of course it would be better, much better. The fact remains though that the State will never accept the Courts telling them how to spend their money.

Well, it's probably unconstitutional.

[meriwether]

Im not one to miss out on a bit of FF bashing, and I have an autistic member of my family, but..........this 26m that was spent, if the cases hadn't been taken, maybe it could have bene spent elsewhere?
And who took the cases?

Im probably going to bet hung here in a minute, but Im just throwing it out there.

[Watcher]

The vast majority of the above actions were taken on the basis that special needs individuals were turned down by schools due to lack of resources and a failure to implement these resources. The question I pose is simple. Would the monies funding these state actions not have been better put to use in assisting the individual rather than hindering their already tough enough struggle through life.

Well said!

Of course it would be better, much better. The fact remains though that the State will never accept the Courts telling them how to spend their money.

It is not the States money, it's our money.

[returning officer]

Merri,
That is a fair point. But the fundamental problem for the State, is that getting additional money for worthy matters is more difficult than funding the defence of litigation (which comes in at priorty no. 3 after public sector pay and interst on the National debt). The chief reason is that government budget start at where they left off last year, rather than zero and so unworthy spending (eg HSE taxi bill) gets the funds before any new spending is considered. These cases were no-hopers legally, but they have pushed the issue right up the agenda. It used to be party poltics could get things done, then campaigns. It appears that no campaign can have any effect unless there is a legal challenge.