Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses and thank Senator Moran for her work in bringing this issue before the joint committee. Before I put my questions, I apologise to the witnesses as I must leave to attend another meeting before they respond.

Senator Moran drew attention to the qualifications required to become a special needs assistant. What plans does the Department have to assist the professionalisation of the SNA role? What will be done to assist current SNAs to acquire the in-service training they need to improve their skills to a level that would allow them to be recognised as professionals, rather than as glorified childminders, as they are sometimes viewed?

When a child with special needs starts school, whether at primary or second level, a briefing session should be provided attended by the child, his or her parents and the special needs assistant. Has time been provided at the start of the school year to allow class teachers to carry out this type of briefing session to ensure everyone is on the same hymn sheet regarding the role of special needs assistants?

In the case of all children with special needs, regular meetings should take place. Classroom teachers do this by osmosis almost in that it is done on an informal basis. This process should be formalised, however, because as Senator Jim D'Arcy stated, success is when it becomes possible to withdrawn the special needs assistant to allow a child to stand alone. Are we facilitating the allocation of special needs assistants to children who no longer need them because they have settled into the system, as it were?

I have some specific questions for the representatives of IMPACT. I will not engage in the criticism we have heard of IMPACT's presentation. I have always believed that a person's role is affected by the way in which he or she is treated. How have employment conditions affected the role of special needs assistants?