‘CLOSURES HAVE BEEN A HUGE LOSS IN OUR EAMON’S LIFE’
TEN-YEAR-OLD Eamon Dearey, who has Down’s syndrome, wants nothing more than to return to school. However, since the closure of his school in Omeath, Co. Louth, Eamon has lost all the structure and routine of his day, and misses his friends. His father Mark said that Eamon is very popular in his class at Scoil Naomh Bríd and that going back would mean the world to him. ‘Eamon doesn’t talk, but can still communicate in his own way using a type of sign language, along with his tablet,’ Mr Dearey said. ‘He’s extremely smart and gets along so well with his fulltime SNA, his siblings and everyone else at his school. ‘However, the school closures have been a big loss in his life. Routine and structure mean so much
Eamon Dearey
to him and we struggle to find activities and stimulation to get him through the day.’
Mr Dearey added that he struggles to understand why teacher and SNA unions are continuing to stall the reopening of special schools and classes.
‘I was really vexed when I heard Fórsa saying they wouldn’t go back, especially since they couldn’t clearly explain why,’ he said. ‘There was no clarity or specifics around what they were asking for and I just can’t see why bringing back a few children with special needs would be deemed unsafe.’
He continued: ‘Every teacher I’ve talked to really wants to get back as soon as possible, but I’m not clear what else the Government can do to convince the unions to agree to come back.’ The father-of-four believes teachers and SNAs should be moved up the vaccination list, saying they are ‘essential workers’.