PREPARATORY work is continuing as Little Angels is on track to become the first primary school in Donegal to come under the patronage of the Donegal Education and Training Board (ETB).
Monday’s meeting of the Board of the ETB heard that the executive are currently working their way through the extensive due diligence documents.
Cllr Tomás Seán Devine asked about setting up a Board of Management and a Parent Association and asked if they could be set up while the process continues.
Chief Executive of Donegal ETB Anne McHugh explained that they are aiming to have assumed patronage by the start of the new school year on September 1, 2026.
Ms McHugh explained that a Board of Management and a Parent Association cannot be established until the education minister officially signs over the school’s patronage.
Donegal ETB currently provides full-time educational services in 15 post-primary schools across the county and its islands. However, there are currently no primary schools under its patronage.
As a result, Little Angels will become both the first special school and the first primary school to be transferred under the ETB’s patronage in Donegal.
IMPLICATIONS OF SNA REVIEW
Cllr Albert Doherty took the opportunity to raise concerns about the significant number of special needs assistants (SNAs) employed at the school and how they could be affected by the widely criticised review of SNA allocations.
The nationwide review and reallocation of SNAs for the upcoming school year has been paused following widespread concern and outrage from parents, teachers, SNAs and trade unions.
Cllr Doherty asked the Donegal ETB to write to the minister for education regarding the “consequences and implications” for special needs provision in Donegal if the review were to proceed.
“We should request that there is no dilution of supports for children with special educational needs,” he said.
Cllr Ciaran Brogan highlighted that more than 60 SNAs are employed at the school, commending their hard work and dedication.
Ms McHugh agreed that a letter would be sent to the Education Minister to address the SNA concerns.
