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

I welcome all our witness and I commend Senator Moran on behalf of the committee on her work as the rapporteur on this issue.

Three of the witnesses, with the exception of IMPACT, are of the view that the role of the SNA should remain as it is. The research that backs that up has been referred to but is there any research that contradicts it in any way? Is there evidence from international organisations that relates to the role of teaching assistants or SNAs that contradicts that in any way? Will IMPACT comment further on its views in relation to the development and expansion of the role and IMPACT's position on it?

In regard to the current number of SNAs and applications for SNAs in particular, will Ms Griffin outline to us the development in terms of the numbers of applicants for SNA posts in recent years and also the reason for the delay this year in informing schools of the number of SNAs they will have? I understand this work is normally done in the middle of June. Will Ms Griffin confirm the number of SNAs required to meet the demand, on which she has decided having assessed the applications received?