Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael)

Most of those on this side of the House who have spoken have a great deal of experience in this area. My own background before entering politics was as a youth worker with a local national school. Many of the students I worked with were receiving the assistance of SNAs and the benefits of that assistance was clear. The educational experience we provide to these young people will stand to them as they move through secondary school and beyond to third level. It might even be possible to draw up a comparative list showing the benefits of special needs assistance in helping children to enter employment and avoid the attentions of the justice system.

I fully understand how important it is that we retain our special needs assistance structure. As such, I welcome the increase this year in the number of SNAs. I also welcome the fact that 90% have been allocated and the remaining 10% will be allocated when we identify where they are needed. As Deputy Jerry Buttimer said, we must concentrate on what we want to achieve, which is to look after the best interests of children. That must be our focus in all relevant debates in this House. Last evening I accompanied two visitors - both teachers - to the Gallery to observe the first part of this debate. I was greatly displeased when two Deputies remarked in the course of the debate that it was a terrible reflection on the Government that there were only two Members in attendance on this side of the Chamber. I am convinced this issue is paramount to Members on all sides of the Chamber. The low attendance has more to do with the need for Dáil reform than it is a reflection of a lack of interest in the issue we are debating.

I have and will always have a passionate interest in this issue. I very much welcome what the Government has done so far, but there is no doubt that more needs to be done. I accept that we live in tough economic times, but it is not children who should suffer. That should never be the case. I welcome the increase in the number of SNAs to an unprecedented level. Several school principals have told me that what they want to see a is comprehensive review of how we deliver the service. One principal remarked that the notion of clusters, whereby a certain number of SNAs is allocated to a number of schools, simply is not working. That is what we should examine. There must be a greater engagement with parents and principals to deliver the best possible service for young people. That is our primary concern into the future.

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