Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Turning to children with special education needs, one of the main steps that is taken by the State to provide for their needs is the provision of special needs assistants. The State has struggled historically to provide sufficient SNAs and to sufficiently incentivise people to become SNAs. Notwithstanding the fact that we are facing a return to school now, they will not be able to distance from the children with whom they work in any way because of the special needs of those children. Nevertheless, and correct me if I am wrong, no guidelines have yet been prepared specifically for SNAs. Is Mr. Clerkin concerned about the numbers of SNAs that will be provided, the numbers that will be necessary and the protections in terms of both guidelines and the provision of personal protection equipment, PPE, etc. for those SNAs? Has that been adequately thought out and planned for up to now?