Special schools hit by withdrawal of music therapy funding

FIVE special schools in the Western Education and Library Board (WELB) - including Foyleview in Londonderry, Rossmar in Limavady and Knockavoe in Strabane - have been affected by the withdrawal of funding for music therapy services, according to the Education Minister John O’Dowd.

The other schools affected in WELB are Elmbrook in Enniskillen and Arvalee in Omagh. Eighteen schools across Northern Ireland have been hit by the withdrawal of music therapy funding.

DUP MLA Lord Morrow asked the Minister of Education which special needs schools had been affected.

He responded: “I understand that given other extensive pressures on the Department of Health and Social Services and Public Safety’s (DHSSPS) budget and the priorities competing for that funding, that DHSSPS is not in a position to continue funding the Northern Ireland Music Therapy Trust which provides music therapy in special schools.”

He provided a list of the schools affected which he said was based on information supplied by the Chief Executives of the Education and Library Boards.