theirishtimes--2020-02-24--‘Unsustainable’ future for some small tourism operators

Small hotels and guest houses could be the next sector of the Irish economy forced to close its doors due to severe increases in insurance costs , the Irish Hotels Federation annual conference will be told on Monday .
The Construction Industry Federation has also warned 50,000 small firms including sub contractors and professional advisors such as architects and engineering consultancies could be at risk , due to difficulties in securing affordable insurance .
Research carried out by The Irish Hotels Federation among its 1,000 members in 2019 showed almost two thirds have been hit with a succession of insurance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
About 90 percent of the hotels and guesthouses surveyed said they were concerned about the impact of insurance costs on their business .
Federation president , Michael Lennon described the increases as “ unsustainable ” .
He said “ exorbitant insurance costs were curtailing the ability of hotels and guesthouses to re-invest in their businesses with knock-on effects for the tourism industry.
” Mr Lennon said decisive action by Government to tackle insurance costs across all business and society , but particularly in relation to the handling of personal injury cases in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ awards being made which are four to five times higher than in the UK.
” The Hotels Federation conference which taken place in Galway on Monday and Tuesday will also hear growth in overseas visitor numbers stalled in 2019 , compared to an increase of 6.5 percent in 2018 .
Room occupancy nationally grew marginally during the year , finishing at 73 percent compared to 72 percent in 2018 .
However , a wide gap between the occupancy rates in Dublin and the rest of the country persisted .
Federation chief executive Tim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ a two-tier tourism industry with the regions bearing the brunt of the slowdown ” .
Dublin continues to perform well with an average occupancy of 82 percent ( down 2 percent on 2018 ) and this is on the back of an additional 1300 rooms coming on stream during the year .
However , the average occupancy for hotels in the midlands is 53 percent ( - 3percent ) , while hotels along the Wild Atlantic Way finished the year with an average occupancy level of 65 percent .
Mr Fenn said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ significant challenges already facing the sector and the vital role that tourism plays in the rural economy , where in many cases it is the only show in town , ” he said .

Small hotels and guest houses could be the next sector of the Irish economy forced to close its doors due to severe increases in insurance costs, the Irish Hotels Federation annual conference will be told on Monday.
The Construction Industry Federation has also warned 50,000 small firms including sub contractors and professional advisors such as architects and engineering consultancies could be at risk, due to difficulties in securing affordable insurance.
Research carried out by The Irish Hotels Federation among its 1,000 members in 2019 showed almost two thirds have been hit with a succession of insurance hikes costs in the previous 12 months.
About 90 percent of the hotels and guesthouses surveyed said they were concerned about the impact of insurance costs on their business. Federation president, Michael Lennon described the increases as “unsustainable”.
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He said “exorbitant insurance costs were curtailing the ability of hotels and guesthouses to re-invest in their businesses with knock-on effects for the tourism industry.”
Mr Lennon said decisive action by Government to tackle insurance costs across all business and society, but particularly in relation to the handling of personal injury cases in Ireland “and the excessive levels of awards being made which are four to five times higher than in the UK.”
The Hotels Federation conference which taken place in Galway on Monday and Tuesday will also hear growth in overseas visitor numbers stalled in 2019, compared to an increase of 6.5 percent in 2018. Room occupancy nationally grew marginally during the year, finishing at 73 percent compared to 72 percent in 2018. However, a wide gap between the occupancy rates in Dublin and the rest of the country persisted. Federation chief executive Tim Fenn, said Ireland continues to have “a two-tier tourism industry with the regions bearing the brunt of the slowdown”.
Dublin continues to perform well with an average occupancy of 82 percent (down 2 percent on 2018) and this is on the back of an additional 1300 rooms coming on stream during the year. However, the average occupancy for hotels in the midlands is 53 percent (- 3percent), while hotels along the Wild Atlantic Way finished the year with an average occupancy level of 65 percent. Mr Fenn said this was a worry, given the significant challenges already facing the sector and the vital role that tourism plays in the rural economy, where in many cases it is the only show in town,” he said.


theirishtimes--2020-02-24--River Shannon levels rise again after night of very heavy rain

River levels along the Shannon have risen again after another night of heavy rain .
Some 20mm of rain fell in the 12 hours from Sunday evening to Monday morning in the Midlands area , exacerbating an already difficult situation .
As of 7am , water levels at Athlone rose by more than 10cm ( four inches ) between Sunday and Monday to a new level of 5.4 metres ( 18ft ) more than a half a metre ( 1.6m ) higher than its normal levels .
A yellow rain warning will expire at 8am , but the forecast is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week .
It will remain cold and unsettled and there will be plenty of rain though not as bad as last week .
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will visit both Athlone and Carrick-on-Shannon on Monday , the two towns worst affected by the recent flooding .
The outgoing Minister of State for the Office of Public Works and Flood Relief Kevin Boxer Moran has said there needs to be an emergency scheme for farmers following recent flooding along the river Shannon .
The former Independent TD for Westmeath-Longford , who narrowly lost his seat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Radio ’ s Morning Ireland that in his lifetime he had never seen the Shannon at the levels it reached at the weekend .
More than eight inches of rain ( 20cm ) had fallen in the past few weeks , he said .
“ That is an enormous amount of rainfall.
” Sunday night had been a very difficult night in the Athlone area , he added , with gulleys at saturation point and people further threatened by rising levels of water and high winds .
Mr Moran defended the outgoing government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Look where we came from .
There have been 98 schemes.
” He said that work on a weir outside Carrick-on-Shannon would go ahead as promised under a €10million scheme , but there was criticism in the area at the weekend that the work had not already been carried out which led to extensive flooding .
Governments in the past had not done anything , he said , while the outgoing government had allocated €1billion in flooding relief and relocation schemes .
However , there was a problem as some people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ They want to stay where they are , ” he said .

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has visited parts of Athlone and Carrick On Shannon that have been hit by recent flooding. Video: Bryan O'Brien
Met Éireann has issued a snow and ice warning for the whole State with the weather forecast to become much colder from Tuesday.
The forecaster said “wintry showers, mainly of hail and sleet, will become increasingly widespread during Tuesday leading to icy patches” and that “some snow accumulations will also occur”.
The warning comes into force at 6am on Tuesday and remains in place until 9am on Wednesday. The forecast anticipates bitterly cold conditions with daytime highs of 3 to 6 degrees and freeing temperatures at night.
Taoiseach @LeoVaradkar and OPW Minister @kevinboxermoran are met by angry residents from near the river Shannon in Athlone who say little has been done to alleviate flooding since last major event four years ago. pic.twitter.com/giYwVMx5Ub — harrymcgee (@harrymcgee) February 24, 2020
The weather warning could be extended for longer as the rest of this week is expected to cold and there is a chance of further sleet and snow in Ulster and Connaught.The long term forecast shows the cold weather extending in March .
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Water levels along the River Shannon have risen again after another night of heavy rain. Some 20mm of rain fell in the 12 hours from Sunday evening to Monday morning in the Midlands area, exacerbating an already difficult situation.
Flooding in Carrick On Shannon as levels of the River Shannon rise. Photograph: Mark Kelly
Water levels at Athlone had risen by more than 10cm (four inches) between Sunday and Monday to a new level of 5.4m (18ft), some 1.6m higher than its normal levels, though they have levelled off by 3pm.
Over eight inches of rain has fallen in the past three weeks causing flooding along the River Shannon, particularly in Carrick-on-Shannon and around Athlone and Cloonlara, Co Clare. Flooding has happened but the levels have not yet reached those seen in December 2015, which has been attributed to new flood defences since constructed.
Irate
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Minister of State for the Office of Public Works Kevin 'Boxer' Moran were met by irate residents and farmers during a visit to Athlone, Co Westmeath on Monday to see the extent of the flooding there.
A number of people angry abour persistent flooding confronted the Taoiseach when he visited the banks of the Shannon at Wolfe Tone Terrace in Athlone.
They claimed little work had been done to prevent flood waters from entering their homes and land since the late 2015 flooding event.
Mr Varadkar told reporters that the Government had committed to invest €1 billion in flood defences and 98 different projects were underway around the State. He said this work would become more necessary in the future.
However, a number of local residents told Mr Varadkar and the Minister that they were in the same situation as in late 2015 and since another major flooding event in 2009, where their lands and homes suffered water damage.
When told remedial work would be done but this would take time, Gertie Dunning from Carrickbrien near Athlone told Mr Varadkar and Mr Moran she did not have 10 years to wait.
‘Insulted’
“The flooding is four inches from my door as I came out this morning. By tonight it will be at the door,” she said. “I am in my 60s. Where will I be in 10 years? No, the OPW have insulted us with what they have given us...It happened four years ago and in 2009 and nothing has been done, absolutely nothing.”
Mr Varadkar there was a plan both for the future and for now, and he praised the OPW and local authorities to the manner in which they had responded quickly to the flooding threat.
Minister of State with Responsibility for Flooding Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran stands in flood water in Athlone, Co Westmeath on Sunday. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA Wire
He also said the Defence Forces would be deployed in the coming days, especially in cut-off rural areas.
He added that part of the solution in future would be relocating those living in isolated homes that were prone to flooding. Saying 20 households had already signed up, he added: “It makes sense to spend tens of millions of euro to develop flood relief works in a town like Athlone. It would not make sense to do that just for one house. Everybody understands that. For some people, the best option is relocation.”
In Co Clare, the Springfield area of Clonlara was submerged on Monday, causing significant problems for the 13 families who live there.
As he watched the River Shannon swallowing up his garden and driveway, Pat Mason said the only way he would consider leaving the area would be in a coffin.
“The only we they’ll get me out of here is in a box,” he declared. “I’m ready for the battle again.”
Despite the best efforts of Clare County Council workers in building-up the flood defences using sandbags, residents have started pumping water out of their gardens and driveways.
Dam
The ESB, which operates the Parteen Weir located upriver from Clonlara, increased the flow of water to maintain safe levels within the dam.
However, the knock-on effect is large scale flooding along the lower Shannon Basin, including Clonlara.
Mr Mason, clutching a life-jacket that he purchased following floods in 1995, showed photographs of his flood-hit bungalow from times past.
Athlone resident Brendan Grehan pushes a wheel barrow through flood water in Athlone, Co Westmeath on Sunday. Photograph: Brian Lawless/PA Wire
“The only thing that has changed down here is the colour of our hair. We’ve gone grey, but nothing has changed, nothing has been done for us.”
Local roads were impassable by car in the area and farmers ferried water bottles to cut-off homeowners. Clare County Council delivered portaloos to residents whose septic tanks and water wells were backed up by the floodwater.
Sean Lenihan, a senior engineer with Clare County Council, said the local authority was hopeful of resubmitting an application in the next “two to three weeks” to construct a 2km mud embankment and pumping station to try to alleviate flooding.
A previous application to build the proposed local flood defence was withdrawn after an objector raised concerns about the ecological and environmental impact of the development.
“We went back to the drawing board to make sure we had addressed all those issues and we are happy that we have,” Mr Lenihan said.


theirishtimes--2020-02-24--Teachers face ‘longer tuition hours’ under plan to resolve dispute

Secondary teachers could end up teaching for longer under a plan drafted by the Department of Education aimed at ending a dispute over the timing of meetings linked to new in-school junior cycle assessments .
Last December , members of the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland ( ASTI ) voted overwhelmingly to refuse to attend these meetings if they take place outside normal teaching hours .
Secondary school managers say this practice is resulting in a “ staggering ” loss of tuition hours for pupils and putting schools in an “ impossible position ” .
These Subject Learning and Assessment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after students undertake classroom-based assessments .
They are aimed at providing an opportunity for a group of teachers to share and discuss samples of their students ’ work and achieve consistency in grading .
The union claims the practice of holding meetings outside teaching hours is contrary to a 2015 agreement with the Government on junior cycle reforms .
In a new development aimed at ending the dispute , the department has produced a draft circular setting out a number of options clarifying when these meetings may take place .
One option allowed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Slar meeting to take place exclusively during the normal school day – as demanded by the ASTI – for a period of no less than two hours .
However , in exchange , teachers would lose a large proportion of their “ professional time ” .
This is a reference to the 40 minutes a week – or 22 hours a year – of non-teaching time given to teachers involved in delivering the junior cycle .
As a result , said one source , teachers could end up with more class tuition time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time has been facilitated by the department by hiring almost 700 additional teachers .
The department is understood to be taking this approach on the basis that it will not “ pay on the double ” by sanctioning the use of paid-for substitution to cover Slar meetings during the school day .
Other options contained in the draft circular including giving schools more autonomy to decide on the timing of Slar meetings , and allowing some meetings to start during school hours and end after hours .
The proposals in the draft circular @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ireland ( TUI ) members , who are currently holding Slar meetings without dispute .
The ASTI ’ s 23-member standing committee is due to meet this week to discuss the proposals .
The Joint Managerial Body ( JMB ) , the school management body for more than half of secondary schools , has previously estimated that allowing Slar meetings to start during class time would lead to the loss of more than 133 hours of tuition time each year in a medium-sized school .
In addition , it would lead to higher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around multiple “ free classes ” as well as student discipline issues .
Any move to have the entirety of these meetings held during class time , the JMB says , would represent a loss of four teaching hours per teacher per subject each year .
It says it would be twice that if , as is the case with the majority , teachers have a second subject .
The current dispute dates back to a 2015 agreement struck between the department and teachers ’ unions .
It states that “ a limited @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on teachers ’ bundled time to run beyond normal school tuition hours for some of the duration of the meeting ” .

The ASTI claims the practice of holding meetings outside teaching hours is contrary to a 2015 agreement with the Government on junior cycle reforms. Photograph: David Sleator
Secondary teachers could end up teaching for longer under a plan drafted by the Department of Education aimed at ending a dispute over the timing of meetings linked to new in-school junior cycle assessments.
Last December, members of the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) voted overwhelmingly to refuse to attend these meetings if they take place outside normal teaching hours.
Secondary school managers say this practice is resulting in a “staggering” loss of tuition hours for pupils and putting schools in an “impossible position”.
These Subject Learning and Assessment Review (Slar) meetings take place after students undertake classroom-based assessments.
READ MORE
They are aimed at providing an opportunity for a group of teachers to share and discuss samples of their students’ work and achieve consistency in grading.
The union claims the practice of holding meetings outside teaching hours is contrary to a 2015 agreement with the Government on junior cycle reforms.
In a new development aimed at ending the dispute, the department has produced a draft circular setting out a number of options clarifying when these meetings may take place.
Paid-for substitution
One option allowed, according to sources, is for Slar meeting to take place exclusively during the normal school day – as demanded by the ASTI – for a period of no less than two hours. However, in exchange, teachers would lose a large proportion of their "professional time".
This is a reference to the 40 minutes a week – or 22 hours a year – of non-teaching time given to teachers involved in delivering the junior cycle. As a result, said one source, teachers could end up with more class tuition time than they currently have.
This professional time has been facilitated by the department by hiring almost 700 additional teachers.
The department is understood to be taking this approach on the basis that it will not “pay on the double” by sanctioning the use of paid-for substitution to cover Slar meetings during the school day.
Other options contained in the draft circular including giving schools more autonomy to decide on the timing of Slar meetings, and allowing some meetings to start during school hours and end after hours.
The proposals in the draft circular will not affect Teachers’ Union of Ireland (TUI) members, who are currently holding Slar meetings without dispute.
The ASTI’s 23-member standing committee is due to meet this week to discuss the proposals.
Discipline issues
The Joint Managerial Body (JMB), the school management body for more than half of secondary schools, has previously estimated that allowing Slar meetings to start during class time would lead to the loss of more than 133 hours of tuition time each year in a medium-sized school.
In addition, it would lead to higher substitution costs and rising parents’ concerns around multiple “free classes” as well as student discipline issues.
Any move to have the entirety of these meetings held during class time, the JMB says, would represent a loss of four teaching hours per teacher per subject each year.
It says it would be twice that if, as is the case with the majority, teachers have a second subject.
The current dispute dates back to a 2015 agreement struck between the department and teachers’ unions.
It states that “a limited number of meetings may need to draw on teachers’ bundled time to run beyond normal school tuition hours for some of the duration of the meeting”.


theirishtimes--2020-02-24--Q&A: Will pupils lose out in changes to how special needs assistants are allocated?

What do the planned changes mean for parents and children ?
Last December the government approved changes which will reform the way 10,000-plus special needs assistants ( SNAs ) are allocated from next September .
SNAs play a crucial role in supporting the care needs of tens of thousands of children in Irish classrooms .
Under the changes SNAs will be “ frontloaded ” to school at the start of the school year .
The advantage , says the Department of Education , is that students will have immediate access to support in their school rather than having to wait @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the HSE .
What ’ s the reason for the change ?
The reforms are based on recommendations proposed by the National Council for Special Education , which warned that “ radical changes ” were needed to improve outcomes for students .
It said that the diagnosis-based system was leading to delays accessing support , and was unfair to poorer pupils whose parents could not afford private assessments .
Under the changes the number of SNAs to be allocated to individual schools will be based on the current level of support they receive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they have .
Will pupils or schools lose out ?
Initially , at least , the plan is that no school should lose out on its existing allocation in the 2020/21 school year .
In fact officials say about 1,000 additional SNAs will be allocated to schools next September .
It is uncertain what will happen beyond 2021 .
Briefing material produced by the department says “ transitional ” arrangements to move from the current model to a new frontloaded system will involve “ managing any redistribution over time ” .
It says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in relation to allocations .
This will allow for a review “ where exceptional circumstances arises or where there is a major change to a school profile ” .
So , why do groups fear there may be cuts ?
Some advocacy group and school managers fear that a rushed and only partial delivery of what has been proposed is on the cards , leaving many key questions unanswered .
The autism charity AsIAm is concerned that a central part of the proposed change is the concept that some school children may not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to other in-school supports and services .
These supports are not in place , it says , and it says it is not credible to introduce such a radical change to the allocation model without fully implementing the original plan .
It points to the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act as a reason why it is so concerned .
This Act promised comprehensive supports for students with additional needs .
It was passed 15 years ago .
It still has not been implemented .
So , who exactly will decide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
The provision of SNAs to schools will be made by the department and its agencies using a formula based on how many special education teachers are based in individual schools .
This is because research indicates that a school ’ s special education teacher allocation is the strongest predictor for the level of need for SNAs in schools .
These special education teacher allocations in turn are based on school profiles which take into account factors such as whether a school is disadvantaged ; standardised tests ; the proportion of students with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It will be up to school principals and teachers to decide how to allocate these SNA resources to children in the classroom .
What happens next ?
The new model is due to be introduced in September .
The department has pledged there will be guidelines for schools , information for parents , professional development and in-school workshops between now and then .
The plan is to develop a draft circular with education partners in April , with SNA allocations to be issued to schools in May .

The provision of SNAs to schools will be made by the Department of Education and its agencies using a formula based on how many special education teachers are based in individual schools. Photograph: Getty Images
What do the planned changes mean for parents and children?
Last December the government approved changes which will reform the way 10,000-plus special needs assistants (SNAs) are allocated from next September. SNAs play a crucial role in supporting the care needs of tens of thousands of children in Irish classrooms.
Under the changes SNAs will be “frontloaded” to school at the start of the school year. The advantage, says the Department of Education, is that students will have immediate access to support in their school rather than having to wait for a diagnosis from private professionals or the HSE.
What’s the reason for the change?
READ MORE
The reforms are based on recommendations proposed by the National Council for Special Education, which warned that "radical changes" were needed to improve outcomes for students. It said that the diagnosis-based system was leading to delays accessing support, and was unfair to poorer pupils whose parents could not afford private assessments.
Under the changes the number of SNAs to be allocated to individual schools will be based on the current level of support they receive and the number of special education teachers they have.
Will pupils or schools lose out?
Initially, at least, the plan is that no school should lose out on its existing allocation in the 2020/21 school year. In fact officials say about 1,000 additional SNAs will be allocated to schools next September.
It is uncertain what will happen beyond 2021. Briefing material produced by the department says “transitional” arrangements to move from the current model to a new frontloaded system will involve “managing any redistribution over time”.
It says there will also be an appeals process in relation to allocations. This will allow for a review “where exceptional circumstances arises or where there is a major change to a school profile”.
So, why do groups fear there may be cuts?
Some advocacy group and school managers fear that a rushed and only partial delivery of what has been proposed is on the cards, leaving many key questions unanswered.
The autism charity AsIAm is concerned that a central part of the proposed change is the concept that some school children may not require SNA support but will need access to other in-school supports and services.
These supports are not in place, it says, and it says it is not credible to introduce such a radical change to the allocation model without fully implementing the original plan.
It points to the Education for Persons with Special Educational Needs Act as a reason why it is so concerned. This Act promised comprehensive supports for students with additional needs. It was passed 15 years ago. It still has not been implemented.
So, who exactly will decide what supports pupils and schools will get?
The provision of SNAs to schools will be made by the department and its agencies using a formula based on how many special education teachers are based in individual schools.
This is because research indicates that a school’s special education teacher allocation is the strongest predictor for the level of need for SNAs in schools.
These special education teacher allocations in turn are based on school profiles which take into account factors such as whether a school is disadvantaged; standardised tests; the proportion of students with complex special education needs, etc.
It will be up to school principals and teachers to decide how to allocate these SNA resources to children in the classroom.
What happens next?
The new model is due to be introduced in September. The department has pledged there will be guidelines for schools, information for parents, professional development and in-school workshops between now and then. The plan is to develop a draft circular with education partners in April, with SNA allocations to be issued to schools in May.


theirishtimes--2020-02-24--Changes to SNA supports may be ‘Trojan horse’ for cuts, say school campaigners

Planned changes to the way special needs assistants ( SNAs ) are allocated to support tens of thousands of schoolchildren could be a “ Trojan horse ” for cuts , campaigners say .
The Department of Education is planning to automatically “ frontload ” more than 10,000 SNAs to mainstream schools in advance of the new school year in September .
It says the move means parents will no longer need to pay for a diagnosis of a disability or make a formal application in order to access support .
Instead , schools will decide on allocations for children .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Department of Public Expenditure has been sounding alarm over the €500 million cost of the scheme , which has jumped by 50 per cent since 2011 .
Department of Education briefings with education partners in recent weeks have sparked fresh concern that students ’ access to SNA support will be at risk of being cut in the future .
In a submission to the department , the autism charity AsIAm has called for the the new allocation model to be halted for at least 12 months to ensure the system is implemented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equitable ” way .
Schools , management bodies and teacher and SNA representative organisations have also been forthright about the “ rushed ” nature of the changes in recent submissions to the department .
Over the weekend , Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin called for the changes to be postponed .
Thomas Byrne TD , Fianna Fail ’ s education spokesman , said the pause was needed to ensure there was greater certainty for parents , children and schools .
Sinn Féin ’ s education spokesman Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire TD said his party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the process to be halted .
When asked if it would consider delaying the rollout of the new model , the Department of Education did not address the question in its response .
It said it held a consultation with education partners in early February and was engaging in a number of follow-up meetings with individual management and staff representative bodies .
“ Management bodies have been informed that no school will see a reduction in their allocation in September 2020 , ” it said , “ Budget 2020 provided for an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number to over 17,000 by end 2020 , which will , in part , support the rollout of the new allocation model.
” However , Adam Harris , chief executive of AsIAm , said department pledges made two years ago to provide detailed consultation and new supports had come to nothing .
“ None of this has been delivered upon and we can not ask families to take a leap into the dark and trust the department when so frequently promised resources haven ’ t been provided and families have been ignored , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the department ’ s plan to rush the implementation of the new allocation model is a potential Trojan horse for cuts to supports for students into the future.
” He said he voiced concerns to authorities two years ago that the needs of students with autism were being overlooked in the proposals and that families would not have enough voice in the system .
“ I was assured that further consultation and planning would allay my concerns but two years on I am more concerned than ever particularly because the department is now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likes , whilst delaying the implementation of the really important new supports which were to accompany it , ” he said .
The department , in a statement , insisted the new model will benefit children by ensuring SNAs will be available in schools before children begin school .
“ It will provide a fairer , more equitable and needs-based system based on a schools ’ education profile , an approach schools are already familiar with under the reformed special education teacher model successfully introduced nationally in 2017 , ” it said .

The Department of Education is planning to automatically ‘frontload’ more than 10,000 SNAs to mainstream schools in advance of the new school year in September. Photograph: iStock
Planned changes to the way special needs assistants (SNAs) are allocated to support tens of thousands of schoolchildren could be a “Trojan horse” for cuts, campaigners say.
The Department of Education is planning to automatically “frontload” more than 10,000 SNAs to mainstream schools in advance of the new school year in September.
It says the move means parents will no longer need to pay for a diagnosis of a disability or make a formal application in order to access support. Instead, schools will decide on allocations for children.
The changes come at a time when the Department of Public Expenditure has been sounding alarm over the €500 million cost of the scheme, which has jumped by 50 per cent since 2011.
READ MORE
Department of Education briefings with education partners in recent weeks have sparked fresh concern that students’ access to SNA support will be at risk of being cut in the future.
‘Rushed’
In a submission to the department, the autism charity AsIAm has called for the the new allocation model to be halted for at least 12 months to ensure the system is implemented in a “fair, transparent and equitable” way.
Schools, management bodies and teacher and SNA representative organisations have also been forthright about the “rushed” nature of the changes in recent submissions to the department.
Over the weekend, Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin called for the changes to be postponed.
Thomas Byrne TD, Fianna Fail's education spokesman, said the pause was needed to ensure there was greater certainty for parents, children and schools.
Sinn Féin’s education spokesman Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire TD said his party “wholeheartedly agrees” with the calls for the process to be halted.
When asked if it would consider delaying the rollout of the new model, the Department of Education did not address the question in its response.
It said it held a consultation with education partners in early February and was engaging in a number of follow-up meetings with individual management and staff representative bodies.
“Management bodies have been informed that no school will see a reduction in their allocation in September 2020,” it said,
“Budget 2020 provided for an additional 1,064 SNAs, bringing the total number to over 17,000 by end 2020, which will, in part, support the rollout of the new allocation model.”
However, Adam Harris, chief executive of AsIAm, said department pledges made two years ago to provide detailed consultation and new supports had come to nothing.
Concerns
“None of this has been delivered upon and we cannot ask families to take a leap into the dark and trust the department when so frequently promised resources haven’t been provided and families have been ignored,” he said.
“We believe the department’s plan to rush the implementation of the new allocation model is a potential Trojan horse for cuts to supports for students into the future.”
He said he voiced concerns to authorities two years ago that the needs of students with autism were being overlooked in the proposals and that families would not have enough voice in the system.
“I was assured that further consultation and planning would allay my concerns but two years on I am more concerned than ever particularly because the department is now cherry-picking the aspects of the model it likes, whilst delaying the implementation of the really important new supports which were to accompany it,” he said.
The department, in a statement, insisted the new model will benefit children by ensuring SNAs will be available in schools before children begin school.
“It will provide a fairer, more equitable and needs-based system based on a schools’ education profile, an approach schools are already familiar with under the reformed special education teacher model successfully introduced nationally in 2017,” it said.


theirishtimes--2020-02-24--Jewish council to write to TDs on how to spot anti-Semitism

The Jewish Representative Council of Ireland plans to write to every member of the new Dáil and Seanad to highlight the risk of anti-Semitism in public debate .
The move comes in the wake of controversy surrounding tweets by newly elected Sinn Féin TD Réada Cronin for which she has since apologised .
Ireland is not immune to the international phenomenon of anti-Israeli rhetoric turning into anti-Semitic abuse , according to Jewish council chairman Maurice Cohen .
“ A little education on what constitutes anti-Semitism would go a long way to correcting this problem .
To that end we would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parties to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance [ IHRA ] working definition of anti-Semitism , ” he said after Sinn Féin had last week moved to draw a line under the affair .
The British Labour Party has in recent years been beset by allegations of anti-Semitism , in part due to a reluctance of certain sections of Jeremy Corbyn ’ s party to fully accept the IHRA working definition .
In a number of now-deleted tweets , Ms Cronin claimed that Israel ’ s foreign intelligence agency was responsible for Labour @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election .
Responding to a tweet which dismissed her view as conspiratorial , she said : “ When the Nazis come back , and they ’ re on the march , it ’ ll be Jeremy Corbyn will stand with you .
You are a disgrace to your forefathers.
” Other tweets of hers asserted that Mossad ’ s alleged actions were “ blatant as f*** ” and that Mr Corbyn was a “ principled man ” who was a victim of “ lies , deceit , fake news , and the sinister @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ms Cronin described her tweets as “ throwaway remarks ” and apologised “ unreservedly and wholeheartedly ” for them .
Sinn Féin finance spokesman Pearse Doherty said the comments were “ not acceptable ” , while party president Mary Lou McDonald said she hoped to meet the Irish Jewish representatives .
She added Sinn Féin “ condemned all racism and bigotry ” .
Mr Cohen said the term Nazism was bandied about in Ireland without people knowing “ that it was , amongst other things , the premeditated , industrialised slaughter of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t suit the Nazi regime ” .
So much anti-Semitism today stemmed from the conflation of Jews and Israel , he continued .
“ In fact many Jews criticise the Israeli government in one way or another and among the most critical are Israelis themselves.
” Mr Cohen said he planned to send copies of the IHRA working definition to every TD in the new Dáil and to all new senators once the Seanad elections had taken place .
As Ireland was already a signatory to the IHRA , “ we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It is now up to our politicians to adhere to it ” , he said .
The IHRA definition reads : “ Anti-Semitism is a certain perception of Jews , which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews .
Rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-Semitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property , toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.
” A guide accompanying the text states that “ manifestations might include the targeting of the state of Israel , conceived as a Jewish collectivity .
However , criticism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any other country can not be regarded as anti-Semitic ” .
It continues : “ Anti-Semitism frequently charges Jews with conspiring to harm humanity , and it is often used to blame Jews for ‘ why things go wrong ’ .
It is expressed in speech , writing , visual forms and action , and employs sinister stereotypes and negative character traits.
” Other manifestations include “ accusing the Jews as a people , or Israel as a state , of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust ” ; “ accusing Jewish citizens of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide , than to the interests of their own nations ” and “ denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination , eg , by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavour ” .
The text , which is non-legally binding , was adopted in May 2016 at an IHRA plenary session in the Romanian capital Bucharest .
In June 2017 the European Parliament passed a resolution calling on member states to adopt this IHRA definition of anti-Semitism “ in order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authorities in their efforts to identify and prosecute anti-Semitic attacks more efficiently and effectively ” .
A similar resolution was adopted by the EU Council of Ministers in December 2018 .
The IHRA , known until January 2013 as the Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education , Remembrance and Research , was founded in 1998 to strengthen , advance and promote Holocaust education , research and remembrance worldwide .
It has 34 member countries including Ireland , which joined in 2011 .

The Jewish Representative Council of Ireland plans to write to every member of the new Dáil and Seanad to highlight the risk of anti-Semitism. Photograph: Alan Betson/ The Irish Times
The Jewish Representative Council of Ireland plans to write to every member of the new Dáil and Seanad to highlight the risk of anti-Semitism in public debate.
The move comes in the wake of controversy surrounding tweets by newly elected Sinn Féin TD Réada Cronin for which she has since apologised.
Ireland is not immune to the international phenomenon of anti-Israeli rhetoric turning into anti-Semitic abuse, according to Jewish council chairman Maurice Cohen.
“A little education on what constitutes anti-Semitism would go a long way to correcting this problem. To that end we would urge Sinn Féin and the other political parties to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance [IHRA] working definition of anti-Semitism,” he said after Sinn Féin had last week moved to draw a line under the affair.
READ MORE
The British Labour Party has in recent years been beset by allegations of anti-Semitism, in part due to a reluctance of certain sections of Jeremy Corbyn's party to fully accept the IHRA working definition.
In a number of now-deleted tweets, Ms Cronin claimed that Israel's foreign intelligence agency was responsible for Labour's defeat in the UK general election. Responding to a tweet which dismissed her view as conspiratorial, she said: "When the Nazis come back, and they're on the march, it'll be Jeremy Corbyn will stand with you. You are a disgrace to your forefathers."
Other tweets of hers asserted that Mossad’s alleged actions were “blatant as f***” and that Mr Corbyn was a “principled man” who was a victim of “lies, deceit, fake news, and the sinister activities of the Mossad Secret Service”.
Ms Cronin described her tweets as "throwaway remarks" and apologised "unreservedly and wholeheartedly" for them. Sinn Féin finance spokesman Pearse Doherty said the comments were "not acceptable", while party president Mary Lou McDonald said she hoped to meet the Irish Jewish representatives. She added Sinn Féin "condemned all racism and bigotry".
Hatred towards Jews
Mr Cohen said the term Nazism was bandied about in Ireland without people knowing "that it was, amongst other things, the premeditated, industrialised slaughter of six million Jews and many others who didn't suit the Nazi regime".
So much anti-Semitism today stemmed from the conflation of Jews and Israel, he continued. "In fact many Jews criticise the Israeli government in one way or another and among the most critical are Israelis themselves."
Mr Cohen said he planned to send copies of the IHRA working definition to every TD in the new Dáil and to all new senators once the Seanad elections had taken place. As Ireland was already a signatory to the IHRA, “we have ‘de facto’ accepted it. It is now up to our politicians to adhere to it”, he said.
The IHRA definition reads: “Anti-Semitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of anti-Semitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”
State of Israel
A guide accompanying the text states that “manifestations might include the targeting of the state of Israel, conceived as a Jewish collectivity. However, criticism of Israel similar to that levelled against any other country cannot be regarded as anti-Semitic”.
It continues: “Anti-Semitism frequently charges Jews with conspiring to harm humanity, and it is often used to blame Jews for ‘why things go wrong’. It is expressed in speech, writing, visual forms and action, and employs sinister stereotypes and negative character traits.”
Other manifestations include “accusing the Jews as a people, or Israel as a state, of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust”; “accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel, or to the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide, than to the interests of their own nations” and “denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, eg, by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavour”.
The text, which is non-legally binding, was adopted in May 2016 at an IHRA plenary session in the Romanian capital Bucharest.
In June 2017 the European Parliament passed a resolution calling on member states to adopt this IHRA definition of anti-Semitism "in order to support the judicial and law enforcement authorities in their efforts to identify and prosecute anti-Semitic attacks more efficiently and effectively". A similar resolution was adopted by the EU Council of Ministers in December 2018.
The IHRA, known until January 2013 as the Task Force for International Cooperation on Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research, was founded in 1998 to strengthen, advance and promote Holocaust education, research and remembrance worldwide. It has 34 member countries including Ireland, which joined in 2011.


theirishtimes--2020-02-24--Divisive Leitrim rape case raises questions about future trials

The commotion in Court 17 of the Criminal Courts of Justice seemed to end as soon as it began .
There was no reaction from the men themselves when Ms Justice Eileen Creedon sentenced each of them to seven years in prison for the rape of their former school mate at a house party three years ago .
In fact , at first there was little reaction from anyone in court aside from a quiet sobbing which gradually grew louder and louder as the consequence of the judge ’ s words settled in the minds of the men ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the judge left the courtroom and the young men ’ s supporters began to gather around them as they sat in the defendants ’ area .
The victim and her family had stood up and were beginning to file out when a female relative of one of the rapists began shouting : “ Are you happy now ?
” A younger woman then started shouting obscenities at the victim and told her : “ You ’ re going to pay for this.
” There was no response .
The victim , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to quietly leave the courtroom .
But the damage had been done .
At the end of an ordeal which began in 2017 , she should have been relieved .
Instead , according to sources , she was devastated and frightened .
In the courtroom the men , who the judge noted came from “ happy ” and “ stable ” backgrounds , kissed their family members goodbye before being led away to begin their sentences .
Their families then stood around , looked shocked and appearing unsure of what to do next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woman was raped by one of the men in a bedroom of a house .
It was towards the end of a house party for local friends in their early 20s who all knew each other and all the other women had gone home .
Following the rape , the man told his friends in the kitchen he had just had “ very kinky ” sex with the woman before showing them the scrapes on his back he said she had inflicted on him .
A photo of his back was taken and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the words “ Does Freddie Kruger have a sister ?
” The second defendant said that “ he might go down and chance a blowjob ” .
He later returned to the kitchen and said that he ’ d also had sex with the woman .
At about 5am the men began loudly joking about how to get the victim out of the flat .
Their lawyers suggested that when the woman had overheard these “ immature laddish ” conversations she was left feeling worthless and “ there to be used ” .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to view the events on the night in a different light that she believed was true but their clients steadfastly denied .
The woman said she feared the men might come back into the room .
She texted her partner to pick her up and later went to a hospital emergency department and the Garda .
The trial heard graphic details of an intimate medical examination which found injuries to her genital area and her throat .
A nurse testified these injuries could be consistent with consensual sex but there was a higher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ genital injuries .
The facts of the cases are shocking but by no means unusual compared to the dozens of other rape trials which are heard every year in Irish courts .
However , the verbal abuse meted out to the victim afterwards , brief as it was , caused a public outcry and was condemned by rape crisis and victims ’ groups .
Closer to home in Leitrim , the reaction was less straightforward .
In January , around the time the two men were first due to be sentenced , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on social media , with people urged to share or like the hearts to demonstrate support for the two defendants .
The blue hearts started to circulate online again after Monday ’ s hearing .
When local radio Ocean FM reported the conclusion of the case on its Facebook page , some responded with two blue hearts in the comments section .
Other responses were more direct and shocking in their contempt for the young woman .
“ What goes around comes around , ” said one .
Another said she had “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were other messages from people worried about the woman ’ s welfare .
One wrote that there was “ too much hate ” .
The report and the comments were subsequently removed by the station .
The community is divided on the case , locals say .
“ People are afraid to say anything because you don ’ t know who you are talking to , ” explained one person .
He said some people believe the woman while others believe that the two defendants are innocent and , in a small community @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the case , it is highly sensitive .
A young mother from the area said she was deeply upset about the case and that it made her worried for her own daughters .
“ Obviously she thought she could trust these guys if she went to school with them .
I started to think about my own daughters .
It is a lesson .
You ’ d think lads they know from school would look out for them.
” She said she believed the woman in the Leitrim case and , while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bear to read , there were also people posting “ I believe her ” too .
Another local said it was outrageous that any woman would endure such abuse in a court room after a conviction .
“ Why would any woman come forward with an allegation ?
” Abuse of victims in courtrooms , even at the end of contested trials , is thankfully rare .
One reason is victims are usually seated on the opposite side of the court , surrounded by gardaí and support workers and out of the eyeline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case demonstrates , when abuse does occur it is most likely to come from defendants ’ supporters rather than the accused themselves .
“ In most cases the client is in a kind of shock and is trying to process what happened .
It ’ s from the back of the court where the emotional stuff usually emanates , ” one experienced criminal barrister said .
This was seen following the conviction of Boy A and Boy B for the murder of 14-year-old Ana Kriegel last year .
When the verdict was handed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shouted “ bunch of scumbags ” and asked those in court if they were proud of their “ victory ” .
Anecdotal evidence suggests victims , especially victims of sex crime , are far more likely to receive abuse when back in their community .
Sometimes this comes from family or friends of the accused and sometimes from the accused themselves .
This was seen following the 2007 conviction of Adam Keane for rape of a woman in Co Clare .
Keane received a suspended sentence and ended up on the same train @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a cigarette towards her .
He was brought back before the court and his suspended sentence was activated .
This type of abuse has a devastating impact on victims and their recovery but it can also have far wider implications .
David Madden , chief executive officer of Sligo Rape Crisis Centre , says he is worried what happened at the end of last Monday ’ s sitting could deter other victims from coming forward .
“ That kind of thing would deter some people from taking cases .
That woman has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remember there is a conviction rate of just 16per cent in these cases.
” While murder and other lesser crimes are regarded as “ cut and dried ” once a conviction was secured , he says , “ oddly enough with sexual violence it is often up for debate even after a conviction ” .

In Court 17 of the Criminal Courts of Justice, the rape victim was subjected to abuse from relatives of the defendants after they were sentenced. Photograph: Front Exterior
The commotion in Court 17 of the Criminal Courts of Justice seemed to end as soon as it began.
There was no reaction from the men themselves when Ms Justice Eileen Creedon sentenced each of them to seven years in prison for the rape of their former school mate at a house party three years ago.
In fact, at first there was little reaction from anyone in court aside from a quiet sobbing which gradually grew louder and louder as the consequence of the judge’s words settled in the minds of the men’s friends and family.
Ms Justice Eileen Creedon sentenced each of the two men to seven years in prison for the rape of their former school mate at a house party three years ago. Photograph: Cyril Byrne
Her work done, the judge left the courtroom and the young men’s supporters began to gather around them as they sat in the defendants’ area.
READ MORE
The victim and her family had stood up and were beginning to file out when a female relative of one of the rapists began shouting: “Are you happy now?”
A younger woman then started shouting obscenities at the victim and told her: “You’re going to pay for this.”
There was no response. The victim, a woman in her early 20s, continued to quietly leave the courtroom. But the damage had been done.
At the end of an ordeal which began in 2017, she should have been relieved. Instead, according to sources, she was devastated and frightened.
Shocked
In the courtroom the men, who the judge noted came from “happy” and “stable” backgrounds, kissed their family members goodbye before being led away to begin their sentences. Their families then stood around, looked shocked and appearing unsure of what to do next.
The proceeding trial heard how the woman was raped by one of the men in a bedroom of a house. It was towards the end of a house party for local friends in their early 20s who all knew each other and all the other women had gone home.
Following the rape, the man told his friends in the kitchen he had just had “very kinky” sex with the woman before showing them the scrapes on his back he said she had inflicted on him.
A photo of his back was taken and shared on the Snapchat app along with the words “Does Freddie Kruger have a sister?”
The second defendant said that “he might go down and chance a blowjob”. He later returned to the kitchen and said that he’d also had sex with the woman. At about 5am the men began loudly joking about how to get the victim out of the flat.
Their lawyers suggested that when the woman had overheard these “immature laddish” conversations she was left feeling worthless and “there to be used”. They claimed that this caused the woman to view the events on the night in a different light that she believed was true but their clients steadfastly denied.
The woman said she feared the men might come back into the room. She texted her partner to pick her up and later went to a hospital emergency department and the Garda.
The trial heard graphic details of an intimate medical examination which found injuries to her genital area and her throat. A nurse testified these injuries could be consistent with consensual sex but there was a higher probability it was non-consensual where there were genital injuries.
The facts of the cases are shocking but by no means unusual compared to the dozens of other rape trials which are heard every year in Irish courts. However, the verbal abuse meted out to the victim afterwards, brief as it was, caused a public outcry and was condemned by rape crisis and victims’ groups.
‘Innocent lives’
Closer to home in Leitrim, the reaction was less straightforward. In January, around the time the two men were first due to be sentenced, a "two blue hearts" campaign circulated on social media, with people urged to share or like the hearts to demonstrate support for the two defendants. The blue hearts started to circulate online again after Monday's hearing.
When local radio Ocean FM reported the conclusion of the case on its Facebook page, some responded with two blue hearts in the comments section.
Other responses were more direct and shocking in their contempt for the young woman . “What goes around comes around,” said one. Another said she had “ruined two innocent lives”.
There were other messages from people worried about the woman’s welfare. One wrote that there was “too much hate”. The report and the comments were subsequently removed by the station.
The community is divided on the case, locals say. “People are afraid to say anything because you don’t know who you are talking to,” explained one person.
He said some people believe the woman while others believe that the two defendants are innocent and, in a small community where people know all the families connected to the case, it is highly sensitive.
A young mother from the area said she was deeply upset about the case and that it made her worried for her own daughters.
“Obviously she thought she could trust these guys if she went to school with them. I started to think about my own daughters. It is a lesson. You’d think lads they know from school would look out for them.”
She said she believed the woman in the Leitrim case and, while there was online commentary she could not bear to read, there were also people posting “I believe her” too.
Another local said it was outrageous that any woman would endure such abuse in a court room after a conviction. “Why would any woman come forward with an allegation?”
Abuse of victims in courtrooms, even at the end of contested trials, is thankfully rare. One reason is victims are usually seated on the opposite side of the court, surrounded by gardaí and support workers and out of the eyeline of the accused.
As the Leitrim case demonstrates, when abuse does occur it is most likely to come from defendants’ supporters rather than the accused themselves.
“In most cases the client is in a kind of shock and is trying to process what happened. It’s from the back of the court where the emotional stuff usually emanates,” one experienced criminal barrister said.
Abuse
This was seen following the conviction of Boy A and Boy B for the murder of 14-year-old Ana Kriegel last year. When the verdict was handed down, the father of Boy B shouted "bunch of scumbags" and asked those in court if they were proud of their "victory".
Anecdotal evidence suggests victims, especially victims of sex crime, are far more likely to receive abuse when back in their community. Sometimes this comes from family or friends of the accused and sometimes from the accused themselves. This was seen following the 2007 conviction of Adam Keane for rape of a woman in Co Clare.
Keane received a suspended sentence and ended up on the same train home as his victim where he flicked a cigarette towards her. He was brought back before the court and his suspended sentence was activated.
This type of abuse has a devastating impact on victims and their recovery but it can also have far wider implications.
David Madden, chief executive officer of Sligo Rape Crisis Centre, says he is worried what happened at the end of last Monday's sitting could deter other victims from coming forward.
“That kind of thing would deter some people from taking cases. That woman has been going through this for 2½ years and remember there is a conviction rate of just 16per cent in these cases.”
While murder and other lesser crimes are regarded as “cut and dried” once a conviction was secured, he says, “oddly enough with sexual violence it is often up for debate even after a conviction”.


theirishtimes--2020-02-24--Children at risk not getting ‘effective’ Tusla service in Dublin north city

Children at risk of significant harm are “ not receiving an effective service ” from Tusla on Dublin city ’ s northside , according to internal audit reports .
Unpublished internal audits from Tusla , the child and family agency , from last year identified numerous major risks in several service areas , including Dublin north city and Cavan-Monaghan .
An audit from the second quarter of 2019 said it could not be assured children at risk of significant harm in Dublin north city were being safeguarded by Tusla , “ due to difficulties with access to and the existence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The audit found there were 68 children listed as active on the Child Protection Notification System ( CPNS ) in the area , which is Tusla ’ s register for children at ongoing risk of serious harm .
Some 23 of these at-risk case files on Tusla ’ s online database were missing standard documentation , such as records of completed initial assessments .
Internal audits from the first three quarters of last year were released to The Irish Times under the Freedom of Information Act .
Dublin north city includes several socio-economically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Finglas and Ballymun .
Eight children on the at-risk register in the area had no records on Tusla ’ s online case database , which was introduced in 2018 to ensure better oversight .
There was “ significant delays ” from social workers adding records to the online system generally , but particularly in Dublin north city , the audit found .
Child protection plans drawn up for some children in the area “ lacked detail and were not robust ” , an audit from the first quarter of 2019 found .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ initial case assessments of children referred to Tusla were being completed consistently in Dublin north city .
“ The return of accurate data relating to initial assessments has been of concern since early 2018 ” , and the audit ’ s findings “ did not alleviate any of these concerns ” .
Shortcomings in the area were in part linked to a high level of staff vacancies , with more than 28 posts to be filled in mid-2019 .
In a statement , a Tusla spokeswoman said a drive to hire more social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , and additional supports had been provided “ to ensure timely completion of initial assessments ” .
In the Cavan-Monaghan area , two children were left in foster homes for nearly a year after Tusla deemed allegations they had been physically abused to be “ founded ” , according to an audit from the first quarter of the year .
The children remained in the homes for 11 months after it was decided they should be moved elsewhere , “ due to difficulties sourcing an alternative placement ” , the audit report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cavan-Monaghan social work department secured new foster placements for the two children .
A spokeswoman for Tusla said decisions around moving a child from a foster placement required an individual response in each case .
“ Removing a child from a care setting where they have a safety plan and where there is no immediate risk to their safety prior to a different placement being found may not be in the best interests of the child , ” she said .
The audit found less than 1 per cent of initial assessments of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the required 40-day timeframe in Cavan-Monaghan .
The audit found a “ high number of cases ” were diverted by social workers to family support services , after which there “ was a lack of evidence of social work oversight ” in several of the cases , even though there was still “ ongoing child protection and welfare concerns ” .
In a number of cases social workers had not set up a child protection conference , which takes place if there are fears a child may be at risk , but the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risk for significant harm had been met ” in the cases .

An audit from the second quarter of 2019 said it could not be assured children at risk of significant harm in Dublin north city were being safeguarded by Tusla. Photograph: Alan Betson / The Irish Times
Children at risk of significant harm are "not receiving an effective service" from Tusla on Dublin city's northside, according to internal audit reports.
Unpublished internal audits from Tusla, the child and family agency, from last year identified numerous major risks in several service areas, including Dublin north city and Cavan-Monaghan.
An audit from the second quarter of 2019 said it could not be assured children at risk of significant harm in Dublin north city were being safeguarded by Tusla, “due to difficulties with access to and the existence of records” in the area.
The audit found there were 68 children listed as active on the Child Protection Notification System (CPNS) in the area, which is Tusla’s register for children at ongoing risk of serious harm.
READ MORE
Some 23 of these at-risk case files on Tusla’s online database were missing standard documentation, such as records of completed initial assessments.
Internal audits from the first three quarters of last year were released to The Irish Times under the Freedom of Information Act.
Dublin north city includes several socio-economically disadvantaged areas, such as Ballybough, Finglas and Ballymun.
Eight children on the at-risk register in the area had no records on Tusla’s online case database, which was introduced in 2018 to ensure better oversight.
There was “significant delays” from social workers adding records to the online system generally, but particularly in Dublin north city, the audit found.
Child protection plans drawn up for some children in the area “lacked detail and were not robust”, an audit from the first quarter of 2019 found.
The audit found “little evidence” that initial case assessments of children referred to Tusla were being completed consistently in Dublin north city.
“The return of accurate data relating to initial assessments has been of concern since early 2018”, and the audit’s findings “did not alleviate any of these concerns”.
Staff vacancies
Shortcomings in the area were in part linked to a high level of staff vacancies, with more than 28 posts to be filled in mid-2019.
In a statement, a Tusla spokeswoman said a drive to hire more social workers in the area took place last year, and additional supports had been provided “to ensure timely completion of initial assessments”.
In the Cavan-Monaghan area, two children were left in foster homes for nearly a year after Tusla deemed allegations they had been physically abused to be “founded”, according to an audit from the first quarter of the year.
The children remained in the homes for 11 months after it was decided they should be moved elsewhere, “due to difficulties sourcing an alternative placement”, the audit report said. Following the report, the Cavan-Monaghan social work department secured new foster placements for the two children.
A spokeswoman for Tusla said decisions around moving a child from a foster placement required an individual response in each case.
“Removing a child from a care setting where they have a safety plan and where there is no immediate risk to their safety prior to a different placement being found may not be in the best interests of the child,” she said.
Welfare concerns
The audit found less than 1 per cent of initial assessments of children referred to Tusla were completed within the required 40-day timeframe in Cavan-Monaghan.
The audit found a “high number of cases” were diverted by social workers to family support services, after which there “was a lack of evidence of social work oversight” in several of the cases, even though there was still “ongoing child protection and welfare concerns”.
In a number of cases social workers had not set up a child protection conference, which takes place if there are fears a child may be at risk, but the audit found “the threshold of ongoing risk for significant harm had been met” in the cases.


theirishtimes--2020-02-24--Why did the Vatican not ask any questions about abuser Jean Vanier?

Few people in contemporary Catholicism and indeed beyond that denomination had a standing similar to that of Jean Vanier .
People frequently referred to him as a living saint and expected that he would be canonised in the near future .
He was frequently compared to Mother Teresa , herself a saint since canonisation in 2016 .
By coincidence , Pope Francis was on his way home from a visit to Skopje , capital of North Macedonia and where Mother Teresa was born , when he heard of Vanier ’ s death last May .
He told reporters on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been kept informed about Vanier ’ s failing health and had phoned him a week before his death .
“ He listened to me , but he could barely speak .
I wanted to express my gratitude for his witness , ” he said , to “ those who are despised and discarded ” .
Almost annually Vanier was mooted as a Nobel prize winner .
Schools across Canada were named after him and , in 2010 , so too was as asteroid .
So revelations that this man had been abusing adult @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very many people .
It has been accompanied by deeply felt disappointment and a re-evaluation of his life .
There is also , on the part of L ‘ Arche and the Faith & Light charities founded by Vanier , a determined effort to separate out the work from the man .
No one can doubt that L ’ Arche in Ireland and internationally does immense work for people who are among the most vulnerable in society .
It would be a tragedy if revelations about Vanier ’ s dark side were to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people looked after by L ’ Arche , as well as Faith & Light .
There are , however , questions that need to be answered by church bodies , given the scandal has its origins in the 1950s when Vanier ’ s spiritual director and mentor Dominican priest Fr Thomas Philippe was removed from public and private ministry by the Vatican for the abuse of women .
The priest died in 1993 .
The L ’ Arche report , a summary of which was published at the weekend , found that in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doubt that Jean Vanier was informed of the reasons for the condemnation ” of Fr Philippe .
The report also found that against the advice of the church , between 1952 and 1964 , Fr Philippe and Vanier maintained a deep bond .
Letters from this period reveal the extent of the priest ’ s influence on Vanier ’ s “ thinking and behaviour ” .
It was in 1964 that Vanier founded L ‘ Arche .
The letters referred to , in the Dominicans ’ archive , included what the investigation termed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which “ lead us to believe that he [ Vanier ] shared sexual practices similar to those of Father Thomas Philippe with several women , none of whom seem to have declared themselves as victims ” .
It said that “ in 1963 , Jean Vanier helped Father Thomas Philippe to physically install his house in Trosly-Breuil [ near Paris ] and joined him a few months later .
Very quickly , several of the women in the small group followed him to find Thomas Philippe , and they were involved to varying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arche ” .
The women referred to belonged to a group called l ’ Eau Vive ( the Water of Life ) founded by Fr Philippe in 1946 as an international “ school of wisdom ” and which Vanier joined in 1950 .
Fr Philippe had been banned by the Vatican from any further dealings with it but continued to run it , secretly , through Vanier .
The L ’ Arche report found that in the early 1960s Fr Philippe “ gradually resumed his priestly and apostolic activities , beginning again to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women ” , despite being banned by Rome from ministry .
Most damning of all the L ’ Arche report found that “ because Jean Vanier did not denounce the theories and practices ” of Fr Philippe it was possible for the priest “ to continue his sexual abuse of women in L ’ Arche and it allowed Father Thomas Philippe to expand his spiritual influence on founders and members of other communities ” .
It also “ heard allegations that Jean Vanier was aware of other situations of psychological or sexual abuse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person .
Despite Jean Vanier ’ s denials when questioned by L ’ Arche International officials , his knowledge of at least some of the facts seems to be proven ” .
It prompts the obvious question why , as Vanier ’ s reputation grew to stratospheric heights , did no one in the Dominicans or the Vatican query his collaboration with Fr Philippe ?
Why did no one ask if abuse could be happening , considering Fr Philippe ’ s known history and Vanier ’ s suspected history ?
And why did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was clear Fr Philippe was back in ministry despite being banned ?
Fr Philippe ’ s removal from ministry in 1956 was by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith .
As his and Vanier ’ s reputation grew , did Pope Benedict , prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith from 1982 to 2005 , never wonder what might be in their files ?
That is not all .
Only last November , Fr Marie-Dominique Philippe , another Dominican priest and brother of Fr Philippe , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in France in 1975 , the Brothers of Saint John .
That followed a 2013 church inquiry which found that Fr Marie-Dominique , who died in 2006 , had sexually abused several women and that , in 1957 , he too was sanctioned by Rome for covering up the abuse of women by his brother Fr Thomas Philippe .
Even then in 2013 , six years before Vanier died , neither the Dominicans or the Vatican asked any questions .

Few people in contemporary Catholicism and indeed beyond that denomination had a standing similar to that of Jean Vanier. People frequently referred to him as a living saint and expected that he would be canonised in the near future.
He was frequently compared to Mother Teresa, herself a saint since canonisation in 2016. By coincidence, Pope Francis was on his way home from a visit to Skopje, capital of North Macedonia and where Mother Teresa was born, when he heard of Vanier’s death last May.
He told reporters on the flight back to Rome how he had been kept informed about Vanier’s failing health and had phoned him a week before his death. “He listened to me, but he could barely speak. I wanted to express my gratitude for his witness,” he said, to “those who are despised and discarded”.
Almost annually Vanier was mooted as a Nobel prize winner. Schools across Canada were named after him and, in 2010, so too was as asteroid.
READ MORE
So revelations that this man had been abusing adult women came as a profound shock to very many people. It has been accompanied by deeply felt disappointment and a re-evaluation of his life.
There is also, on the part of L‘Arche and the Faith & Light charities founded by Vanier, a determined effort to separate out the work from the man. No one can doubt that L’Arche in Ireland and internationally does immense work for people who are among the most vulnerable in society.
It would be a tragedy if revelations about Vanier’s dark side were to impact on those least responsible, the people looked after by L’Arche, as well as Faith & Light.
There are, however, questions that need to be answered by church bodies, given the scandal has its origins in the 1950s when Vanier’s spiritual director and mentor Dominican priest Fr Thomas Philippe was removed from public and private ministry by the Vatican for the abuse of women. The priest died in 1993.
Deep bond
The L’Arche report, a summary of which was published at the weekend, found that in 1956 “there was no longer any doubt that Jean Vanier was informed of the reasons for the condemnation” of Fr Philippe.
The report also found that against the advice of the church, between 1952 and 1964, Fr Philippe and Vanier maintained a deep bond. Letters from this period reveal the extent of the priest’s influence on Vanier’s “thinking and behaviour”.
It was in 1964 that Vanier founded L‘Arche. The letters referred to, in the Dominicans’ archive, included what the investigation termed “a series of indicators”, which “lead us to believe that he [Vanier] shared sexual practices similar to those of Father Thomas Philippe with several women, none of whom seem to have declared themselves as victims”.
It said that “in 1963, Jean Vanier helped Father Thomas Philippe to physically install his house in Trosly-Breuil [near Paris] and joined him a few months later. Very quickly, several of the women in the small group followed him to find Thomas Philippe, and they were involved to varying degrees in the founding of L’Arche”.
The women referred to belonged to a group called l’Eau Vive (the Water of Life) founded by Fr Philippe in 1946 as an international “school of wisdom” and which Vanier joined in 1950. Fr Philippe had been banned by the Vatican from any further dealings with it but continued to run it, secretly, through Vanier.
The L’Arche report found that in the early 1960s Fr Philippe “gradually resumed his priestly and apostolic activities, beginning again to confess and to accompany men, then women”, despite being banned by Rome from ministry.
Why did neither the Dominicans nor Rome intervene when it was clear Fr Philippe was back in ministry despite being banned?
Most damning of all the L’Arche report found that “because Jean Vanier did not denounce the theories and practices” of Fr Philippe it was possible for the priest “to continue his sexual abuse of women in L’Arche and it allowed Father Thomas Philippe to expand his spiritual influence on founders and members of other communities”.
It also “heard allegations that Jean Vanier was aware of other situations of psychological or sexual abuse of L’Arche assistants by another person. Despite Jean Vanier’s denials when questioned by L’Arche International officials, his knowledge of at least some of the facts seems to be proven”.
It prompts the obvious question why, as Vanier’s reputation grew to stratospheric heights, did no one in the Dominicans or the Vatican query his collaboration with Fr Philippe?
Why did no one ask if abuse could be happening, considering Fr Philippe’s known history and Vanier ’s suspected history? And why did neither the Dominicans nor Rome intervene when it was clear Fr Philippe was back in ministry despite being banned?
Fr Philippe’s removal from ministry in 1956 was by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. As his and Vanier’s reputation grew, did Pope Benedict, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith from 1982 to 2005, never wonder what might be in their files?
That is not all. Only last November, Fr Marie-Dominique Philippe, another Dominican priest and brother of Fr Philippe, was officially renounced by a movement he founded in France in 1975, the Brothers of Saint John.
That followed a 2013 church inquiry which found that Fr Marie-Dominique, who died in 2006, had sexually abused several women and that, in 1957,he too was sanctioned by Rome for covering up the abuse of women by his brother Fr Thomas Philippe.
Even then in 2013, six years before Vanier died, neither the Dominicans or the Vatican asked any questions.


theirishtimes--2020-02-24--Anti-social chants bringing sour note to schools rugby

Next week ’ s Leinster Schools Senior Cup semi-finals will take place in front of an expectant crowd of thousands of students , past pupils and spectators .
However , much of the focus at the rugby games will be on what is happening in the stands rather than on the pitch .
After recent matches in the competition the Leinster branch of the Irish Rugby Football Union issued a letter to schools warning about drinking and anti-social behaviour involving past pupils , as well as derogatory name-calling from the stands .
“ We have been advised and have received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the point now where action must be taken when incidents occur , ” the letter stated .
In a subsequent Irish Times article , former international referee Owen Doyle described his disgust at what he saw on the stands during school matches .
He said there were chants from some groups of supporters , such as “ your father works for my father ” and “ we pay fees ” , and verbal abuse of volunteer match officials and schoolboy players on the pitch .
Some past pupils gathered in groups , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hoodies .
How does this sit with the professed ethos of prestigious schools ?
Should the events be downplayed as a case of some boys behaving badly ?
Or has an obsessive devotion to schools ’ rugby , combined with a sense of entitlement and privilege , skewed the attitude of many students in our private schools ?
None of the schools synonymous with the competition responded to requests for comment .
The Jesuits , the religious order involved in the running of Clongowes , Gonzaga and Belvedere , also did not comment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Blackrock College , St Michael ’ s College on Merrion Road , St Mary ’ s College in Rathmines and Templeogue College in Dublin – said its school communities were “ united in a commitment to holistic education underpinned by strong core values ” .
In a statement from the Spiritan Education Trust , it said : “ Spiritan ethos encourages students to be strong advocates for social justice in a spirit of generosity which finds expression in practical ways that are firmly grounded in care and respect for others and for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , warden – or headmaster – of St Columba ’ s College , a fee-charging school in south Co Dublin , believes the growing intensity of competitive rugby at school level threatens the values of some schools .
“ There is an increasing tension in school sport , ” he says .
“ Now all good sports schools employ external professional coaches .
They are not school teachers with a wider perspective , and they want to win at all costs .
They are not looking at the bigger picture but at winning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team behaves is less important than the result .
The crucial role of sport as a creator of character has been outsourced .
It is bound to make a difference.
” There ’ s no doubt that schools rugby has changed .
Students are now meticulously prepared in every aspect of preparation , from strength and conditioning to video analysis .
There are 7am gym sessions , medicals and detailed training on all-weather pitches .
Once it took time for scrawny school players to bulk up and gain a foothold in the professional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ players transition seamlessly to provincial academies which supply the Irish rugby team .
Arthur Godsil , former headmaster of St Andrew ’ s College in Dublin , feels that while the game has become more professionalised , the same hype has always surrounded the senior cup .
“ I remember playing in it myself , and I couldn ’ t sleep for the week before the match , ” says Godsil , who now runs an education consultancy firm .
He does not agree with those who argue that the competition has gone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing enough to maintain pupils ’ standards of behaviour .
“ People are wrong to bark up the tree of ‘ schools should do better ’ .
Schools go to extraordinary lengths to ensure there is a strong foundation of values such as charity and respect.
” .
The players on the pitch , he says , are exemplary .
Yet he accepts that some supporters can get out of hand .
“ It ’ s young people being young people in a highly charged atmosphere… When you hear them singing songs and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up to the nth degree .
The players are able to release that on the pitch , unlike the supporters.
” One senior school rugby coach and former teacher who declined to be named also feels schools are the subject of unfair criticism .
“ I saw the headlines about ‘ your dad works for my dad ’ .
Articles will always focus on the few eejits getting a chant like that going .
It ’ s embarrassing .
No school , headmaster or coach wants that .
“ But the criticism has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strong rivalry with another school team , and we beat them last year .
Our supporters clapped the opposing team off the pitch .
It was a marvellous sporting reaction .
It wasn ’ t organised.
” He also feels the senior cup is held up to much closer scrutiny than other competitions .
“ I saw there was a riot last week involving Bohs and Shamrock Rovers supporters .
Here we had a few upper middle class boys making ratty chants…I don ’ t like that , and at the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ something in the stand , but the criticism has to be proportionate.
” He accepts that the game is more professional now than it ever was , but even in the top schools it was still just part of a broader education .
“ I think people would be surprised to see what it ’ s really like .
We play rugby because we enjoy it…We actually train less than we used to , three times a week instead of five .
That ’ s down to greater knowledge on strength , conditioning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coaches in our school are also teachers .
It ’ s complementary to a holistic education – it ’ s not the defining part of it…It helps to round the person in my opinion.
” Some parents , however , disagree .
They point to what they describe as an unhealthy obsession with sporting success in some fee-charging schools which , they feel , can adds to some pupils ’ sense of entitlement and superiority .
One parent , who declined to be named , says she opted to take her son out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saw the effect it had on him and others .
“ The best rugby players are treated like gods .
If you didn ’ t fit into that culture you end up being excluded , teased and bullied ...
He had other friends who wanted to leave but parents are often the problem themselves .
They want the social networks and prestige.
” For St Columba ’ s , which is the most expensive day and boarding school in Dublin – with fees of up to €8,600 for day pupils – Boobbyer says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as teamwork , resilience and respect for others .
“ Ultimately every school will say that its ethos is to teach values and give young people a sense of humility ...
But if some schools saw their own behaviour and what they really hold to be dear in their own schools , they might be slightly embarrassed about the image that ’ s given out .
”

Next week's Leinster Schools Senior Cup semi-finals will take place in front of an expectant crowd of thousands of students, past pupils and spectators. However, much of the focus at the rugby games will be on what is happening in the stands rather than on the pitch.
After recent matches in the competition the Leinster branch of the Irish Rugby Football Union issued a letter to schools warning about drinking and anti-social behaviour involving past pupils, as well as derogatory name-calling from the stands.
“We have been advised and have received representation from the Garda that we are at the point now where action must be taken when incidents occur,” the letter stated.
In a subsequent Irish Times article, former international referee Owen Doyle described his disgust at what he saw on the stands during school matches.
READ MORE
He said there were chants from some groups of supporters, such as “your father works for my father” and “we pay fees”, and verbal abuse of volunteer match officials and schoolboy players on the pitch.
Some past pupils gathered in groups, dressed to intimidate, heads covered with hoodies.
How does this sit with the professed ethos of prestigious schools? Should the events be downplayed as a case of some boys behaving badly? Or has an obsessive devotion to schools’ rugby, combined with a sense of entitlement and privilege, skewed the attitude of many students in our private schools?
Values
None of the schools synonymous with the competition responded to requests for comment.
The Jesuits, the religious order involved in the running of Clongowes, Gonzaga and Belvedere, also did not comment.
However, the Spiritans – founders of Blackrock College, St Michael's College on Merrion Road, St Mary's College in Rathmines and Templeogue College in Dublin – said its school communities were "united in a commitment to holistic education underpinned by strong core values".
In a statement from the Spiritan Education Trust, it said: “Spiritan ethos encourages students to be strong advocates for social justice in a spirit of generosity which finds expression in practical ways that are firmly grounded in care and respect for others and for the earth.”
However, Mark Boobbyer, warden – or headmaster – of St Columba’s College, a fee-charging school in south Co Dublin, believes the growing intensity of competitive rugby at school level threatens the values of some schools.
“There is an increasing tension in school sport,” he says. “Now all good sports schools employ external professional coaches. They are not school teachers with a wider perspective, and they want to win at all costs. They are not looking at the bigger picture but at winning the next match.
“How their team behaves is less important than the result. The crucial role of sport as a creator of character has been outsourced. It is bound to make a difference.”
Professional
There’s no doubt that schools rugby has changed. Students are now meticulously prepared in every aspect of preparation, from strength and conditioning to video analysis. There are 7am gym sessions, medicals and detailed training on all-weather pitches.
Once it took time for scrawny school players to bulk up and gain a foothold in the professional game. These days many schools’ players transition seamlessly to provincial academies which supply the Irish rugby team.
Arthur Godsil, former headmaster of St Andrew's College in Dublin, feels that while the game has become more professionalised, the same hype has always surrounded the senior cup.
“I remember playing in it myself, and I couldn’t sleep for the week before the match,” says Godsil, who now runs an education consultancy firm.
He does not agree with those who argue that the competition has gone too far or that schools are not doing enough to maintain pupils’ standards of behaviour.
“People are wrong to bark up the tree of ‘schools should do better’. Schools go to extraordinary lengths to ensure there is a strong foundation of values such as charity and respect.” .
The players on the pitch, he says, are exemplary. Yet he accepts that some supporters can get out of hand.
“It’s young people being young people in a highly charged atmosphere… When you hear them singing songs and watch their faces, they are pumped up to the nth degree. The players are able to release that on the pitch, unlike the supporters.”
One senior school rugby coach and former teacher who declined to be named also feels schools are the subject of unfair criticism.
“I saw the headlines about ‘your dad works for my dad’. Articles will always focus on the few eejits getting a chant like that going. It’s embarrassing. No school, headmaster or coach wants that.
“But the criticism has to be proportionate. We have a strong rivalry with another school team, and we beat them last year. Our supporters clapped the opposing team off the pitch. It was a marvellous sporting reaction. It wasn’t organised.”
Scrutiny
He also feels the senior cup is held up to much closer scrutiny than other competitions.
"I saw there was a riot last week involving Bohs and Shamrock Rovers supporters. Here we had a few upper middle class boys making ratty chants…I don't like that, and at the end of a recent match I had to address something in the stand, but the criticism has to be proportionate."
He accepts that the game is more professional now than it ever was, but even in the top schools it was still just part of a broader education.
“I think people would be surprised to see what it’s really like. We play rugby because we enjoy it…We actually train less than we used to, three times a week instead of five. That’s down to greater knowledge on strength, conditioning and recovery.
“All the main coaches in our school are also teachers. It’s complementary to a holistic education – it’s not the defining part of it…It helps to round the person in my opinion.”
Some parents, however, disagree. They point to what they describe as an unhealthy obsession with sporting success in some fee-charging schools which, they feel, can adds to some pupils’ sense of entitlement and superiority.
One parent, who declined to be named, says she opted to take her son out of a well-known rugby school when she saw the effect it had on him and others.
“The best rugby players are treated like gods. If you didn’t fit into that culture you end up being excluded, teased and bullied... He had other friends who wanted to leave but parents are often the problem themselves. They want the social networks and prestige.”
Teamwork
For St Columba’s, which is the most expensive day and boarding school in Dublin – with fees of up to €8,600 for day pupils – Boobbyer says sport should be about teaching values such as teamwork, resilience and respect for others.
“Ultimately every school will say that its ethos is to teach values and give young people a sense of humility...But if some schools saw their own behaviour and what they really hold to be dear in their own schools, they might be slightly embarrassed about the image that’s given out.”