NAAS 28 February 2003: Naas Town Council this week heard submissions from organisations who deal with disability, seeking sites in the town to build special schools.
A presentation by The Saplings School which caters for autistic children said the needs of children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder are not being met in the Naas area. The deputation said Naas is at the hub of the catchment area for Saplings with 75% of the children at the school in Kilwarden, Kill from Naas and its surrounding area.
No permanent site currently exists for specialized autism service in Naas and a permanent location is essential, the Council was told.
The Saplings School was set up through the energy and commitment of a small group of parents and professionals in the Kildare area to provide for the special educational needs of local children with autism using the latest advances in instructional design.
The core teaching principle is based on ‘one to one’ teaching, an approach that allows each child’s programme to be individualised. This approach increases academic, social, language and play skills.
The Kilwarden school presently caters for 13 children between the ages of 3 and 8, but demand is such that there are plans to double the available facilities. This will mean an extensive expansion of both space and staffing levels.
All children attending have shown significant gains in only 18 months with 6 of the original 12 in supported mainstream placements.
100% of staff budget has been approved by Dept of Education and Science, circa E1m, which meets the staffing needs for 30 children.
Phase 1, costing around E300,000, is to be funded 100% by Dept of Education. Phase 2 expansion, circa E200,000 will also be funded 100% by the Dept. The delegation said current buildings are portable and adequate for start up at a new site.
Saplings is now looking for a permanent site on serviced land in Naas and said this is an opportunity for Naas Town Council ‘to demonstrate commitment to the community’.
A decision has yet to be taken by Naas Town Council to provide such a site for Saplings.
Meanwhile, Naas resident Phil Garvey of Enable Ireland (formally Cerebral Palsy Ireland) asked Naas Town Council for a 2-acre site to build a E2m purpose-built children’s centre within the next three years.
Representing the parents of children attending Enable Ireland services, Phil said children from Naas and other parts of Kildare are bussed daily to Scoil Mochua in Clondalkin, a special school dedicated to meet the physical needs of children with physical disability.
“What you councillors represent to us tonight is a chance to change things for the better for our children and those coming up behind them. We are determined that no other generation of Naas or Kildare children should have to travel great distances to receive treatment and services they so justly deserve,” Phil told Naas councillors.
“The land we are asking you for tonight means we can move forward in a positive fashion, plan and fundraise with a real goal and sense of purpose.”
At present the Enable Ireland Kildare service is run from a 4-bedroom house in Naas, which is less than ideal for either staff or children.
Figures show some 60% of the children receiving services live in Naas and the surrounding area. It is believed a further 100 children are in receipt of services outside the county or are not receiving services at all.
Cllr Willie Callaghan works for Enable Ireland. Prior to the meeting he handed a letter to town clerk Declan Kirrane, declaring his interest, and subsequently took no part in the discussion.
