SEELB turn down proposal for Ican centre

THE ICAN Centre in Ballynahinch has been dealt a devastating blow after the South Eastern Education and Library Board Commissioners turned down a proposal to keep the specialist unit, which helps nursery children with speech and language difficulties - many of which come from Lisburn - open.
By The Newsroom
Published 10th Jun 2010, 12:41 BST
Updated 10th Jun 2010, 13:02 BST

MP Jeffrey Donaldson said the decision is 'devastating' and along with Margaret Ritchie and Jim Shannon lead a cross party forum with parent representatives at the SEELB headquarters on Wednesday June 23 in a bid to persuade them to rethink their decision.

During the delegation parents also plan a protest outside the headquarters of the SEELB.

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Staff at the ICan centre received a letter recently from the SEELB to say the future of the unit was uncertain. The Education Minister Caitriona Ruane made it clear she has not cut the funding and said the decision lies solely with the SEELB. However, she said she would be speaking to the Board to ask how they intended to cater for children with speech and language difficulties if they did not provide the money to keep the centre open.

Mr Donaldson said the news that the commissioners of the SEELB have rejected their request to keep the Ican Centre open for the forthcoming year is 'devastating' news for all concerned.

"This is a valuable unit which has transformed the lives of so many children," he said. "The board accepts that in the longer term the work Ican does offers considerable cost saving as well as helping with the children's development

"Therefore the funds that has been withdrawn is little short term gain and will have an affect on so many lives. This decision is totally illogical.

"We have all to meet with the commissioners and we hope they will change their mind and reintroduce the funding."

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Related topics:Jeffrey DonaldsonLisburn