FRUSTRATION AT CUTS TO SUMMER SCHEME

Yet more budget cuts within the Southern Education and Library Board (SELB) have caused outrage from the many supporters of the programme who hit out at the board for a lack of "proper consultation" with parents and the school itself.

Upper Bann Ulster Unionist Assembly Member George Savage MLA said he was outraged by the news.

"I am disgusted that the Southern Board have cut the funding for the annual two-week Summer Scheme at Donard School to one week and will not be providing the transport for the children to attend the Summer Scheme," said Mr Savage.

"The Summer Scheme gives the children a great event with much enjoyment to look forward to and the Board have denied this to the very children we work with to ensure the best quality of life possible. For the parents it is also a valuable few hours of respite."

Mr Savage said the swiftness of the decision, which he criticised for being made "without proper consultation with the school or the parents".

"It is the children who will suffer and that is an absolute disgrace," said the MLA.

"To this end I have tabled urgent questions to the Minister for Education and I am seeking an urgent meeting with her and senior Southern Board officials including the Chief Executive."

The issue of SELB cuts was raised in last week's Leader when parents spoke of their dismay that a school bus cancellation will leave children of primary school age walking on busy main roads to get to school or the nearest bus stop.

A spokesperson for the SELB told the Leader the transport that had been provided to and from the school for the scheme in previous years was not a statutory requirement.

"The Southern Education and Library Board has had to make savings as part of the budget allocation for the financial year 2010 -2011," she said.

"In the first instance attempts have been made to identify savings in administration and management; after that from services or functions that are discretionary and which do not impact on statutory services to children and young people."

"Within this context the SELB at its Board meeting on June 9 approved a range of areas where savings could be made; this included he reduction in the length of the Special School summer schemes.

"This year the Special Schools who provide summer schemes have been advised that this will be delivered for five days over a two-week period.

"This is regrettable but unavoidable in the current economic climate," she added.