Council criticised over failure to provide special needs equipment for Kildare school

Kildare County Council has been criticised for failing to provide funding for a trampoline for children with special needs attending a local school.

Independent councillor Bill Clear said he is “extremely disappointed and frustrated” at the council’s failure to accede to a request for €5,000 from Local Property Tax (LPT) funding to purchase a specialised trampoline for children with special and additional needs at Ballycane primary school in Naas.

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He rejected KCC’s assertion that this is a matter for the Department Education because it is not likely to come from this course.

“Having canvassed in two elections, I’ve seen first-hand the daily struggles these families face. In nearly every fifth home I visited, I met parents of special needs children, doing their best without meaningful support from the State.” He was supported by Cllr Ger Dunne.

He pointed out that these families pay LPT “like everyone else, yet receive very little in return.”

He said no public park has dedicated facilities for children with additional needs. 

“Yet while we approve funding for food festivals like the K Club, we are denying a basic resource to vulnerable children in our own community.”

He added: “I will not accept this decision. I will continue to advocate for these children and their families. This is a small but important step towards a more inclusive community and I will not take no for an answer.”

Cllr Clear noted KCC has a budget of €236m “and there is widespread support among councillors to back this request.”

He also pointed out that KCC recently supported an inclusivity event at the Curragh Racecourse.

KCC official Eoghan Ryan said the council has provided a trampoline in Castledermot and one is planned for Leixlip.

He said there is nothing wrong with the proposal if the council was managing the facility but if it is located within a school it is only available during school hours.

He said the council can work towards providing one in a playground but “it’s more challenging in a school setting.”

He said councillors are sometimes under pressure to provide facilities which should be done by the HSE or the Department of Education.