Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In several of his responses today the Minister of State has indicated that the number of SNAs is higher than it has been in the past. However, the problem is that on the ground, when one goes to any school, the reality is very different. Teachers, principals and parents will tell the Minister of State what they are telling the rest of us, namely, how difficult it is to ensure SNA support is provided for a student whom they feel very much needs it.

More and more, they are being asked to share SNA resources among students. The burden and task of deciding how an SNA resource is allocated among students with a need is left with the teacher. This is a totally unfair position to leave teachers, principals and school management in because resources are stretched. Although numbers may be high, the difficulty involved in ensuring that adequate care and support is given to students who need it is very different.

This particular circular only added to the difficulty. The circular said in respect of SNA support that:

The care needs outlined must be of such significance that they are beyond that which would normally be expected to be provided to a child by the child’s class teacher, support teacher, or other school teachers, or beyond the level of assistance which could be offered to the student by his or her fellow pupils in school.

In respect of post-primary level, the circular stated that only students with chronic and serious care needs should require SNA support and that continued and ongoing access to SNA support is generally not desirable for post-primary students. The phraseology led to many of the concerns. I know the Department is putting together an information booklet but alongside this, would it not be better to withdraw that circular and put out a fresh one, which would hopefully allay many of the concerns it has caused?

See this speech in context