At least 14,000 people currently employed in special needs teaching and mental health services will lose their jobs because of government cuts, it emerged on Thursday.

The cabinet’s decision to cut spending on mental health services by €600m will lead to 9,000 people losing their jobs, Marleen Barth, chairman of the local authority health boards is quoted as saying.
‘Over 10% of the budget for mental health services is being cut in one go,’ Barth said. Most of those affected will be freelancers or people on flexible contracts, she said.
Teaching
Meanwhile, education minister Marja van Bijsterveldt has confirmed that the €300m cut in spending on special education programmes will lead to the loss of 5,000 teaching and classroom assistant jobs.
The cash is being chopped from budgets to help special needs children attend ordinary schools.
Those plans have led to widespread protests from parents and teachers. Bijsterveldt told MPs on Thursday she had reached agreement with parents’ organisations and teaching unions on the changes.