Search

05 Feb 2026

Hunter questions failure to record attendance information about children with SEN

The SDLP MLA raised the issue at the Education Committee this week during evidence from Department of Education officials, who confirmed that no data is currently recorded on the matter

SDLP MLA Cara Hunter

SDLP MLA Cara Hunter

Reporter:

Staff Reporter

05 Feb 2026 11:30 AM

Email:

news@derrynow.com

SDLP Opposition Education Spokesperson Cara Hunter MLA has questioned the failure to record information on the number of children with special educational needs (SEN) who are placed on reduced school timetables.
 
She raised the issue at the Education Committee this week during evidence from Department of Education officials, who confirmed that no data is currently recorded on the matter.
 
East Derry MLA Cara Hunter said: “My office regularly supports children with SEN and their families as they try to navigate an education system that too often fails to meet their needs. From school transport to support in the classroom, many families feel their children are being failed and denied the opportunity to reach their full potential.
 
“I was deeply concerned to learn at committee this week that there is no data recorded on the number of children with SEN who are on reduced timetables. This is a serious issue. I am aware of one child supported by my office who is currently only attending school for half an hour a day.
 
“If we are not properly recording and analysing this information, it is impossible to understand the scale of the problem or to put the right support in place. This points to a wider failure in how SEN is being managed across our education system, and a lack of basic data to inform decision-making.
 
“I will be raising this directly with the Education Minister and pressing for clear data collection and retention processes to be put in place, so that we can properly support children with SEN and ensure they receive the education they are entitled to.”

To continue reading this article,
please subscribe and support local journalism!

Subscribing will allow you access to all of our premium content and archived articles.

Subscribe

To continue reading this article for FREE,
please kindly register and/or log in.

Registration is absolutely 100% FREE and will help us personalise your experience on our sites. You can also sign up to our carefully curated newsletter(s) to keep up to date with your latest local news!

Register / Login

Most Popular

Sponsored Content

Multimedia

We've got Donegal Covered...

Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie

Buy a paper

Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles.

Buy Now
Get the news

Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm.

Register Now
Iconic Media is Ireland's largest independently owned regional newspaper and media group, with an unrivalled audience in print, online and mobile. We have 19 regional newspapers and 21 digital sites.

Iconic Digital Titles

  • Carlow Live
  • Clare Live
  • Derry Now
  • Donegal Live
  • Éire Bheo
  • Inish Live
  • Ireland Live
  • Kildare Live
  • Kildare Now
  • Kilkenny Live
  • Laois Live
  • Leitrim Live
  • Letterkenny Live
  • Limerick Live
  • Longford Live
  • Louth Live
  • Mayo Live
  • Nenagh Live
  • Offaly Live
  • Tipperary Live
  • Waterford Live

    • Iconic Print Titles

  • Clonmel Nationalist
  • County Derry Post
  • Derry News
  • Donegal Democrat
  • Donegal Post
  • Dundalk Democrat
  • Homes in Donegal
  • Inish Times
  • Kilkenny People
  • Leinster Express
  • Leinster Leader
  • Leitrim Observer
  • Letterkenny Live
  • Limerick Leader
  • Longford Leader
  • Mayo News
  • Midland Tribune
  • Tipperary Star
  • Tullamore Tribune

    • This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie.

    © 2026 Iconic Media