NIFTY 250 - Fri, Mar 12: St Anthony’s to appeal SNA cuts; Town Council feels the effect of strike; Mayo News Cheltenham coverage

St Anthony’s Castlebar to appeal cuts

St Anthony’s Special School in Castlebar are to officially appeal the cutting of three Special Needs Assistants from the school, it has emerged.
This comes less than 24 hours after school principal Fiona Byrnes addresses a Joint Oireachtais Committee on Education at DΡil Eireann.
The appeal to the cuts, which are due to come into effect during the Easter break, will be heard by the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).
Fiona Byrnes has criticised the fact that the NCSE is conducting the appeal as it was that body who recommended the cuts in the first place.
She has stressed that such an appeal should be heard by an independent authority.


Castlebar Town Council feels the effect of Public Sector strike

Many officials from Castlebar Town Council were absent from the monthly meeting of the authority last night as part of the Public Sector work-to-rule action.
Only Town Manager Seamus Granahan and Town Clerk Marie Crowley were present at Marsh House in Castlebar as other administrative officers didn’t attend as part of their action.
Mayor of Castlebar Michael Kilcoyne told the meeting that another part of the action was that officials would not work with any councillors from Government parties and also that it was his information that this was set to extend to Fine Gael, as they are in favour of the cuts.
This would mean that only Labour, Sinn Féin, the Socialist Party and Independents who support the action of the Public Sector workers will be able to conduct any business with council officials.


Mayo News kicks off Cheltenham coverage

With just a few days to go until the start of the Cheltenham racing festival, The Mayo News has launched its unrivalled local coverage.
Hear the thoughts of Mick Fitzgerald, Andrew McNamara, David Duggan, Paul Ryan and Jonathan Mullin here on our website as the countdown begins in earnest.
Plus, don’t miss our eight-page Cheltenham Festival preview in next Tuesday’s paper as Michael Duffy marks your card and we give our readers all the tips from The Mayo News preview night last week.