Derry MLA Pat Ramsey has reacted angrily to information revealed in a Freedom of Information request that Education Minister Johh O’Dowd followed exactly the recommendations of the Civil Service in relation to closing Woodlands Speech and Language Unit.
The SDLP representative accused the Mr O’Dowd of not putting up a fight to keep Woodlands open, despite it being recognised as a centre of excellence.
The documents also reveal the Education and Training Inspectorate raised concerns about closing the unit, as did a number of local schools.
Mr Ramsey added “significantly,” the 308-page document showed no written opposition from Derry’s Sinn Fein MLAs.
Mr Ramsey said: “It was clear to the parents, students and staff of Woodlands as well as the entire City that John O’Dowd made the wrong decision about the Woodlands Speech and Language Unit – but now the scale of the decision and the process followed has become clear following a Freedom of Information request submitted by a parent that has been replied to in a 308 page document showing all documentation used and sought by the Department of Education and the Minister that led to his decision.
“In the response from the Department to the request, a number of revelations have come to the fore. A document prepared for the Minister by the Area Planning Team who are responsible for Development Proposals outlines the options for the Minister, recommending that the Unit be closed, but halted for a year, which is exactly what the Minister did.
“There is no record of the Minister having questioned this advice, despite representations from myself, the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists, the ETI raising concerns about the consultation and other avenues that may have been available, and the range of local schools that totally opposed the closure.
Questions also have to be asked of Sinn Fein MLA’s – the Minister did not receive one letter of opposition from his colleagues as outlined in the FOI response, despite the 328 objection letters which clearly demonstrated the will of the parents and those involved in the Unit. Internal emails from the Education and Training Inspectorate show concerns were raised about the consultation – the author of one email stating ‘It would appear that this proposal was not handled well, has raised a lot of local controversy, consultation has not been consultative’.”
Mr Ramsey said “serious questions” needed to be asked of the Minister and his colleagues.
He added: “They did not listen to all those who objected, all those who signed petitions, local schools and even the ETI. The Minister has decimated the future of the Unit which has given so much to children and their parents and the local community, and for what? I would welcome a response from Derry SF MLA’s about this issue.”
Mr Ramsey concluded: “It would appear that the mantra of ‘Standing up for Derry’ should be replaced by ‘Running away from issues’ in relation to Sinn Fein, while the SDLP have stood four-square behind the retention of this unit, and I hosted a delegation just this morning with the chair of the Education Committee about Woodlands with parents to ensure this issue does not fall off the radar. I would call on the Minister – again – to rethink his decision.”
ENDS
